Witham, Kelvedon, Hatfield Peverel, Silver End and Rivenhall

Witham, Kelvedon, Hatfield Peverel, Rivenhall and Silver End all feature in this book about this now mainly residential area straddling the old Roman road. Witham was a Saxon settlement and the manor was given to the Knights Templar in 1148. In 1215 they established a weekly market at a place they called ‘La Newelande’. Market forces encouraged a new community to grow up here, which became known as Chipping Hill. Much later the little town became a major posting stage for coaches and in the 19th century this was replaced by engineering industry.