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Martin Hayday and James Lambert, two talented blacksmiths displaying James' remarkable piece of copperwork at their Barleylands Forge within the Craft Village at Great Burstead, not fare from Billericay town. Always a pleasure to meet up with Barleylands resident blacksmith, Martin Hayday, to be found at the forge at Barleylands Craft Village in Great Burstead. We also find James Lambert and David Theobold there, too. Love this part of Essex which brims with creative talent. You will need a day at least to see all the crafts and meet so many clever, artistic folk. Take a look at their website: http://www.barleylands.co.uk/calendar.html Barleylands Craft Village, Barleylands Rd Billericay, Essex CM11 2UD |
Friday, July 26, 2013
MARTIN, OUR LOCAL BLACKSMITH AT BARLEYLANDS' FORGE
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
STILL THE 2013 BILLERICAY ART TRAIL FLOURISHES

Love the work of Frida Kahlo, perhaps Mexico's greatest woman artist. Here we see a sculpture of the great lady
FRIDA
Wonderful pieces in various venues around Billericay and even more in St Mary Magdalen church in High Street. Do pop along and see what local artists have to offer. The terracotta head of Frida was created by local artist, Kate Gilbert and can be viewed at the above church.
The rather special brochure is online through www.billericayarttrail.co.uk
Thursday, July 11, 2013
A LENS ON LITERATURE - RAY WATERS presents....
THE 2013 BILLERICAY ART TRAIL WAS LAUNCHED THIS EVENING AND IT WAS GREAT TO MEET SO MANY TALENTED ARTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CREATIVE FOLK WHO WILL HAVE THEIR WORK ON DISPLAY IN VARIOUS VENUES AROUND THE TOWN. CHECK OUT THEIR PROGRAMME BROCHURE WHICH IS IN PRINT, BUT ALSO ON LINE AT www.billericayarttrail.co.uk AND YOU WILL CERTAINLY FIND ASPECTS OF ART, MUSIC, LITERATURE, PHOTOGRAPHY - ORIGAMI OVER THE NEXT TEN DAYS.
RAY WATERS WHOSE TALK ON TUESDAY 16 JULY AT THE FOLD, 72 LAINDON ROAD, BILLERICAY IS A 'MUST' FOR MANY WHO ENJOY BOTH LITERATURE, ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
Monday, July 08, 2013
BILLERICAY ART TRAIL 2013 - NOT LONG NOW TO WAIT
The Billericay Art Trail - Thursday 11th to Sunday 21st July 2013
Brochure
Brochure
The 2012 brochure you can still be downloaded by clicking on the text below.
The Art Trail organisers would like to thank
David Vinten for the design of the 2013 brochureDavid Vinten 01702 476355 dwvinten@gmail.com
GHR Jarvis & Company
20 Radford Crescent
Billericay, Essex CM12 0DU
Billericay, Essex CM12 0DU
An annual exhibition of Artists' work across Billericay
In addition to Artists exhibiting in a variety of venues across the town, other exhibitions and events are being planned for the 2013 Billericay Art Trail.
Wednesday 10th July: Set Up Day: Displays, flags and shop posters are put up
Thursday 11th July: Day One: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Launch Evening for artists and guests (7pm - 9pm)
Friday 12th July: Day Two: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Saturday 13th July: Day Three: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Open Studio - Potters at The Fold with Peter Norris including a 'have a go' activity (10am - 3pm)
Open Studio - Trevor Harwood at 9 Delta Road, Hutton, CM13 1NG (10:30am - 4pm)
Superior New Orleans Brass Band (11am - 1pm)
Superior New Orleans Brass Band: Quartet (6pm - 8pm)
Sunday 14th July: Day Four: Trail in High Street (in some venues only) (12 noon - 3pm)
Summerfest Gazebo Hub at Sun Corner (10am - 4pm)
Open Studio - Trevor Harwood at 9 Delta Road, Hutton, CM13 1NG (10:30am - 4pm)
Monday 15th July: Day Five: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Tuesday 16th July: Day Six: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Wednesday 17th July: Day Seven: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (11am - 4pm) You are welcome to the Communion service that takes place in the Church from 10am - 11am
Open Studio - Potters at The Fold with Peter Norris (10am - 3pm)
Raku Open Studio - Harvey and Barbara Bradley at 29 Meadow Rise with guest potter Madelaine Murphy and Raku event (5pm - 9pm)
Thursday 18th July: Day Eight: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Friday 19th July: Day Nine: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Saturday 20th July: Day Ten: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
The Big Draw at Norsey Wood with guest Mark Lewis and artists Joanna Bradley, Harvey Bradley, Dezadie and Julia Tanner (10am - 3pm)
Open House - Kate and Tony Gilbert at 1 Thynne Road (2pm - 5pm)
Open Studio - Trevor Harwood at 9 Delta Road, Hutton, CM13 1NG (10:30am - 4pm)
Arts Evening at St. Mary Magdalen with guests Tim Cunningham, Jonathan Evans, Colin Burns and Dezadie as well as projected images from the Big Draw (7:30pm - 10pm)
Sunday 21st July: Day Eleven: Trail in High Street (in some venues only) (11am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (11am - 4pm)
Open House - Kate and Tony Gilbert at 1 Thynne Road (2pm - 5pm)
Open Studio - Trevor Harwood at 9 Delta Road, Hutton, CM13 1NG (10:30am - 4pm)
Celebration Service at St. Mary Magdalen
Monday 22nd July: Clearing Day: Displays, flags and shop posters are taken down
If you are interested in becoming involved in one of these events please contact the committee via our contact us page.
The Billericay Art Trail - Thursday 11th to Sunday 21st July 2013 - art : painting : mosaics : ceramics : jewellery : digital imagery : photos : origami : sculpture : yarn art : poetry : dance : music
In addition to Artists exhibiting in a variety of venues across the town, other exhibitions and events are being planned for the 2013 Billericay Art Trail.
Wednesday 10th July: Set Up Day: Displays, flags and shop posters are put up
Thursday 11th July: Day One: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Launch Evening for artists and guests (7pm - 9pm)
Friday 12th July: Day Two: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Saturday 13th July: Day Three: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Open Studio - Potters at The Fold with Peter Norris including a 'have a go' activity (10am - 3pm)
Open Studio - Trevor Harwood at 9 Delta Road, Hutton, CM13 1NG (10:30am - 4pm)
Superior New Orleans Brass Band (11am - 1pm)
Superior New Orleans Brass Band: Quartet (6pm - 8pm)
Sunday 14th July: Day Four: Trail in High Street (in some venues only) (12 noon - 3pm)
Summerfest Gazebo Hub at Sun Corner (10am - 4pm)
Open Studio - Trevor Harwood at 9 Delta Road, Hutton, CM13 1NG (10:30am - 4pm)
Monday 15th July: Day Five: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Tuesday 16th July: Day Six: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Wednesday 17th July: Day Seven: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (11am - 4pm) You are welcome to the Communion service that takes place in the Church from 10am - 11am
Open Studio - Potters at The Fold with Peter Norris (10am - 3pm)
Raku Open Studio - Harvey and Barbara Bradley at 29 Meadow Rise with guest potter Madelaine Murphy and Raku event (5pm - 9pm)
Thursday 18th July: Day Eight: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Friday 19th July: Day Nine: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
Saturday 20th July: Day Ten: Trail in High Street (10am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (10am - 4pm)
The Big Draw at Norsey Wood with guest Mark Lewis and artists Joanna Bradley, Harvey Bradley, Dezadie and Julia Tanner (10am - 3pm)
Open House - Kate and Tony Gilbert at 1 Thynne Road (2pm - 5pm)
Open Studio - Trevor Harwood at 9 Delta Road, Hutton, CM13 1NG (10:30am - 4pm)
Arts Evening at St. Mary Magdalen with guests Tim Cunningham, Jonathan Evans, Colin Burns and Dezadie as well as projected images from the Big Draw (7:30pm - 10pm)
Sunday 21st July: Day Eleven: Trail in High Street (in some venues only) (11am - 4pm)
Hub Exhibition at St. Mary Magdalen (11am - 4pm)
Open House - Kate and Tony Gilbert at 1 Thynne Road (2pm - 5pm)
Open Studio - Trevor Harwood at 9 Delta Road, Hutton, CM13 1NG (10:30am - 4pm)
Celebration Service at St. Mary Magdalen
Monday 22nd July: Clearing Day: Displays, flags and shop posters are taken down
If you are interested in becoming involved in one of these events please contact the committee via our contact us page.
Saturday, July 06, 2013
THE ESSEX HUNDRED - ANDREW AND JOHN HAVE DONE IT AGAIN!
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Boudicea sculpture by Thomas Thornycroft by Westminster Bridge |
Andrew Summers and John Debenham have produced a great new book entitled METROPOLITAN ESSEX. As is usual with their readable style, you will find this a fascinating publication full of little known facts and unusual stories about those areas that once belonged to Essex and are now considered London boroughs. Lots of research and work went into this project and below you can see a sample. Andrew Summers and I will be talking about this book and other titles on Thursday 25 July on Phoenix 98fm Radio courtesy of Michelle Ward's programme around 11am.
This changed in 1965 with the formation of the Greater London Council. Five new London Boroughs were created, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest becoming in effect Metropolitan Essex in London.

Whilst only a tiny proportion of the land was taken, nearly one third of the existing Essex population was removed from the county. Despite these changes over two generations ago, many residents who live in these boroughs still refer to themselves as Essex people, as does much of the media. Following on from the Essex Hundred, Essex Hundred Histories and ON THIS DAY in Essex, London's Metropolitan Essex endeavours to tell some of the fascinating stories of Essex now in London.
In the extract 'Snatched from Essex' below the reader can find out what happened.
Snatched from Essex
On April 1st 1965, following the demise of the London County Council, five new London Boroughs were formed that became the core of Metropolitan Essex. The western boundary of the greater Essex, that had survived more or less intact for over 1000 years since Saxon times, was radically altered. The county border defined by the River Lea was moved over 12 miles east to align approximately with the section of the route followed by the easterly outer ring road, London's M25.
The change resulted in long established councils such as Romford, Hornchurch, Chingford, Ilford, Walthamstow, Leyton and Woodford disappearing into the new larger authorities of Havering, Redbridge, Barking or Waltham Forest as the case may be. Even West Ham and East Ham that had functioned with looser Essex ties for several years became part of the London Borough of Newham. At the same time North Woolwich which was part of Kent, although north of the River Thames and geographically in Essex, was transferred to the London Borough of Newham.
The reorganization brought relatively little change to the land area of Essex. The five new boroughs accounted for less than eight percent of the original 'Saxon' Essex. However for the population it was a different matter. With the new status, at a stroke over one million people, or 40% of the Essex population, became Londoners.
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