{"id":14355,"date":"2014-04-15T14:00:56","date_gmt":"2014-04-15T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/?p=14355"},"modified":"2014-05-19T10:50:19","modified_gmt":"2014-05-19T09:50:19","slug":"billericay-essex-southern-england-twenty-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/billericay-essex-southern-england-twenty-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Billericay, Essex, southern England &#8211; twenty photos"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-01.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Last Saturday, I took a trip out to Billericay in deepest Essex to watch a woefully under-performing <a href=\"http:\/\/www.brixtonbuzz.com\/2014\/04\/theres-dancing-on-the-pitch-and-imaginary-goals-as-dulwich-hamlet-lose-0-2-at-billericay\/\" target=\"_blank\">Dulwich Hamlet lose to the local football team.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>I didn&#8217;t have a lot of time in the town but here&#8217;s some photos I captured on my brief visit.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"14357\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/billericay-essex-southern-england-twenty-photos\/billericay-essex-photos-21\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/billericay-essex-photos-21.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"620,455\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Billericay, Essex, southern England &amp;#8211; twenty photos\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/billericay-essex-photos-21.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14357\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/billericay-essex-photos-21.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, southern England - twenty photos\" width=\"620\" height=\"455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/billericay-essex-photos-21.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/billericay-essex-photos-21-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Excitement builds as the train from Liverpool Street nears Billericay.<\/p>\n<p>I only ever got to know of the place through the song &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=T-JIzWFfsPk&amp;feature=kp\" target=\"_blank\">Billericay Dickie<\/a>&#8216; by the wonderful Ian Dury, but this town of some 36,000 souls has a history dating back to the Bronze Age. [<a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Billericay\" target=\"_blank\">&#8212;<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>A meeting of the Pilgrim Fathers before they set off in the Mayflower is said to have taken place in Billericay, a fact echoed by some local place names, while in 1916, the town had a close call when a giant German Zeppelin airship was shot down after an aerial battle,\u00a0narrowly missing the High Street.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-02.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This striking, semi-derelict building on Norsey Road can be found close to the railway station.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-04.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The plaque describes the building as Elizabeth Cottage, 1903.<\/p>\n<p>Abandoned for many years, the building was recently saved from an untimely and illegal demolition &#8211; but only after the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.brentwoodgazette.co.uk\/Elizabeth-Cottage-loved-corner-Billericay-saved\/story-20767519-detail\/story.html\" target=\"_blank\">dastardly owner had taken off the\u00a0roof tiles and removed a chimney<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-03.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Further down Norsey Road is three grade II* listed cottages, dating from the 14th century.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-05.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Started as far back as 1945, the\u00a0Billericay Spiritualist Church\/Centre can be found at\u00a016 West Park Crescent in\u00a0Billericay.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-06.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It wouldn&#8217;t be Essex without some modern mock Tudor homes.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-07.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The modern lines of Billericay Methodist Church, which opened in 1964.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-08.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-20.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Inside Billericay Town&#8217;s football ground.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-10.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.newwhitehart.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">White Hart pub<\/a> at\u00a0138 High Street, which describes itself as &#8216;\u00a0the home of live music in Billericay.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-11.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>High Street view.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-12.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sign for the Red Lion pub, a\u00a0former coaching inn on the High Street.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-13.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Old church, now used as a restaurant. Update: according to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wildwoodrestaurants.co.uk\/restaurants\/billericay\/\" target=\"_blank\">restaurant&#8217;s web site<\/a>, the building was formerly a police station.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-14.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The attractive Victorian old <a href=\"http:\/\/www.billericayhistory.org.uk\/page_id__176_path__0p26p39p43p.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Reading Rooms<\/a>, built in 1886.<\/p>\n<p>In the 1960s, the building served as the Billericay Recreation Rooms.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-15.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Chapel Street. The plaque reads, &#8220;The Woolpack, 1450, extended 1570, front rebuilt 1850-1953.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-16.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In this Chapel Street view (left to right) is The Chequers pub, Goodspeeds fishmongers and Fleur De Lys flower shop.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-17.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Door detail from 5, Chapel Street.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-18.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thechequersbillericay.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Chequers<\/a> pub, a timber framed building thought to date back to around 1509.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/billericay-essex-photos-19.jpg\" alt=\"Billericay, Essex, England -  twenty photos from around town, April 2014\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Railway pub, close to the station.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Saturday, I took a trip out to Billericay in deepest Essex to watch a woefully under-performing Dulwich Hamlet lose to the local football team. I didn&#8217;t have a lot &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14358,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17,193],"tags":[806,624,372],"class_list":["post-14355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-photos","category-places","tag-billericay","tag-england","tag-essex"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/billericay-essex-photos-011.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pQI7P-3Jx","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14355"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14577,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14355\/revisions\/14577"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}