Silver End

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Silver End is a small village in the Braintree district in Essex. It shares the area code of 01376 and the postcode prefix of CM8 with nearby town Witham. Silver End was the brainchild of Mr Francis Henry Crittall or the The Guv'nor as he was known to his workforce. Mr Crittall was an industrialist who had a vision to provide his workforce with houses and amenities in close proximity to his window factory. Thus in 1926 Silver End village was built. In 1928, a large department store was opened with 26 various departments under one roof, unfortunately it burnt down in 1951, and was re-built as the existing Co-op and adjacent shops. The village hall was opened boasting a 1st class dance floor, cinema, library, snooker room and health clinic. It is still recognised as one of the largest village halls in the UK. All major production ceased at the original Crittall site in 2006 when the factory was closed down and production of window frames were transferred to the Midlands. The future of the old factory site is currently unknown, but a number of buildings from the early Crittall days have a preservation order. There is still production of window frames under the Crittall name (unconnected to the Silver End site) at a factory facility in Braintree, Essex.

[edit] Local facilities

Silver End has a small number of shops for the local residents but the nearest large supermarket is a Morrisons in Witham. Today, Silver End has a a library, doctors surgery, chemist, chinese takeaway, indian takeaway, fish & chip shop, betting shop and small Co-op supermarket. There are 3 churches and 2 playing fields and one pub called the Western Arms. There is one primary school and secondary schools are situated in and around Braintree and Witham. The John Bramston School, The Rickstones and Alec Hunter are the closest and most popular schools nearest to Silver End

[edit] Transport links

Silver End is on a direct link by road to Braintree and Witham which are within a 10 minute drive. There is a bus service to Chelmsford via Witham. The nearest and most accessible train station is Witham railway station, situated on the London Liverpool Street to Norwich main line via Hatfield Peveral, Chelmsford, Romford and Stratford.