Talk:Brentwood, Essex

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Contents 1 Churches 2 Sugar Hut 3 Elephants 4 Town info: 5 Boring Town 6 Robert Graves & Roman battle at Brentwood 7 Edits 20th AUgust 2006

[edit] Churches

Is it just me or are local churches now swamping the external links section? Maybe a subsection is required about churches in the town in the same way as there is a section on sport, parks & open spaces? DaveK@BTC 12:12, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

I have had no reaction on this comment/question I posed above. Of the external links there are now more than 50% relating to churches in Brentwood.

   * Brentwood Borough Council - Welcome to Brentwood (PDF)
   * Brentwood - White's Directory of Essex, 1848
   * Churches in Brentwood - The Website of Churches Together in Brentwood
   * Brentwood Baptist Church - Brentwood Baptist Church
   * BBC's H2G2 Entry on Brentwood - The Guide to Life, The Universe and Everything
   * Brentwood Directory - A free directory/portal specifically for Brentwood
   * Phoenix FM - Community radio license holder for Brentwood
   * Boredtown - A Resident's Views on Brentwood Life
   * Sawyers Church Brentwood - A Brentwood town centre Church
   * Brentwood Freecycle Network - Online recycling service
   * The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood
   * Dodd Road Community Church - Dodd Road Community Church
   * St. Peter's Church South Weald - St. Peter's Church South Weald

I do not believe that Brentwood is 50% preoccupied with Christian religion and consider this to be unencyclopaedic material adding little in the way of any true perspective about the town. Those churches that have historic interest ought have that historic material reflected here; maybe with a suitable link to the church website for further detail, those undertaking activities that are not 'day-to-day' religion and could be considered outstanding would also merit mention perhaps; otherwise are the links not little more than ad spam? DaveK@BTC 22:48, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sugar Hut

I certainly agree that the derogatory remarks recently made about the Sugar Hut were inappropriate but it must be said that the current owners of what used to be the White Hart have hidden all but the facade of what used to be a historically interesting building easily accessible to the public as a walk though to what is now William Hunter Way. I believe it to be the case theet the owners have also been accused, if not yet found guilty, of having breached planning consents in somewhat over-zealous re-construction. DaveK@BTC 16:27, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Elephants

Ahem, I just read this and I have to say I've seen some implausible nonsense on the internet, but why would they import elephants from India to Essex, train them, and send them back to India? I lived there and I never heard about it. Maybe this was the work of a comedian, but then Brentwood School alumni include Douglas Adams, Griff Rhys-Jones, and Keith Allen. And Noel Edmunds. And Hardy Amies. And Frank Lampard Jr. - Anon comment put in main article

You people have absolutely no sense of humour whatsoever, do you? Whoever removed that text from the Brentwood, Essex page seriously needs to examine why they did that. What's the matter with you? Can you not let something vaguely light-hearted remain where it was? Secondly, I can only hope that your question regarding the importing of Elephants to Brentwood was meant to be seriously tongue-in-cheek, otherwise I'll have to conclude that you really are intellectually deficient. Whoever you are, Anon, do try and grow up - and yes, one can be grown up and have a giggle, before you start. Dear me.

User:Harry Potter added the factoid; I've left a query for him/her on his/her talk page, and we now wait ... --Tagishsimon (talk)

Well this is apparently where it came from. Do you suppose we can trust the word of Eric Pickles MP? -Wiccan Quagga

It's a fact that is often used in many histories of Brentwood. Unlikley as it may seem, it does appear to be true. Of course without finding someone that is an expert on the East India company we won't know for sure, but they did have a headquarters on that site. - DarkCryst

It also makes more sense if you consider that the East India Company wanted to train their men to be used to working with Elephants before they went abroad rather than training the elephants. This way they would be productive from day one rather than spend their first 3 months learning the local ropes. DaveK@BTC 12:57, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Town info:

I've just noticed that the town info quotes Brentwood as being postcode CM14. It certainly also covers CM15 and possibly other CM codes as well. --DaveK@BTC 12:53, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

The CM15 postcodes tend to be Pilgrims Hatch and Doddinghurst. Central Brentwood is CM14... thats probably why DarkCryst 19:22, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

Actually CM15 extends right up Doddinghurst Road to junction with Ongar Road - just 5 minutes walk from High St so pretty much Brentwood. DaveK@BTC 09:25, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Boring Town

Why pose the question 'Is Brentwood a boring town?' It is transparently obvious to all those who live there that this is true, and it must be even more stark to visitors. Fortuitously for residents, it has the saving grace of being situated right next to London, and since the town's proximity to London is the reason that most of us live here, the town itself being dull as s*** is not that much of a problem. Who cares when we live on the edge of the greatest city in the world? And flighty lives in Brentwood as well.

• My grandparents lived in Brentwood for many years (and my parents, until they escaped... to Norfolk, the only place more boring), and you're right; it is a terminably irretrievable hole. That said, it's still not encyclopaedic material unless it's verfiable from reliable sources. Kinitawowi 16:27, 3 May 2006 (UTC)
  • It's very varifiable - it was featured across national newspapers and TV shows. Not to mention the local newspapers OTT coverage. - DarkCryst

[edit] Robert Graves & Roman battle at Brentwood

The History section says:

"Robert Graves claims that Brentwood was the site of the battle where Claudius defeated the Ancient Britons in 44AD."

I know that in one of the Claudius books ('I, Claudius' or 'Claudius the God') Graves writes about the battle taking place in Brentwood, but my understanding was that this was fictional and has no basis in fact.

Would it be reasonable to say that either a source should be added to this text or it should make clear that it is not a "claim" but a "fictional account"?

[edit] Edits 20th AUgust 2006

A significant edit was undertaken on this date by Mrsteviec - I have emailed the following questions to him:

Hi - just noticed your (extensive) update to the Brentwood entry. Can you explain why you felt it necessary to:

1. remove the material on schoools in the area? Many town entries on Wikipedia have this information which is normally considered to be quite useful to know about; 2. change the emphasis from Essex to London (maybe as a Londoner you feel the need to lay claim to Brentwood) because much of Brentwood is rural and certainly considers itself to be an integral part of Essex and most definitly not much at all to do with London; 3. remove the notable institutions piece - Brentwood School (although not quite my cup of tes) is a significant aspect of the town; 4. cull the nearest places for no apparent good reason.

Always open to the entry moving forward but only if it adds to relevant knowledge base of the town.

DaveK@BTC 10:14, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Hello. Here is my reply:

1. I moved the schools to the Brentwood (borough) article as the list was for the borough, not the town, listing schools in Ingatestone etc.
2. I added the map of the Greater London area as it shows more detail than the previous map and also shows Brentwood's built up area rather nicely (its that little island around the dot). No terretorial claims were made, however, I highly dispute that any part of the town is rural (or indeed considers itself to be any one thing or another).
3. The notable institutions were already linked and mentioned in the article. This section was needless repetition.
4. Nearest places is just that, nearest, every place in 5 miles need not be included. Mrsteviec 17:38, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Hi - wasn't aware there was also a 'Borough' entry so thanks for that - will need to look at it now and see what it has to say. However, living in the area as I do I would suggest that locally Brentwood is considered as a larger area than just the built-up part adjacent to the town centre and is thought of as being a whole with the 'villages' surrounding including South Weald, Pilgrims Hatch, Kelvedon Hatch, Ingrave, Herongate etc... and, indeed, Shenfield, Hutton etc... That includes one whole large part of countryside by which Brentwoodians would identify themselves. On the same basis I would think (personally) that most would consider themselves to be Essex first and London second and so the introductory piece should be reversed back to 'Essex and part of the London commuter belt' rather than the reverse. Would be interested to hear the views of anybody else actually living in Brentwood.

DaveK@BTC 23:02, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure where you are getting the idea the article says Brentwood is part of London. It doesn't make any such suggestion. The London commuter belt reference has been in the intro for ages. Mrsteviec 05:51, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

It's a matter of precedence only. As phrased Brentwood is considered first as part of the commuter belt (suggesting a precedence and, possibly, a dependence) and then indirectly referenced as part of Essex.

DaveK@BTC 08:23, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

I'd like to take issue with the map being used, it is certainly detailed but I would suggest overly so and not really all that helpful. The marker, for instance, is the same colour as urban areas which, being london, means it gets a bit lost in the crowd.

--Shadebug 12:58, 8 November 2006 (UTC)