Billericay is the most visually historic part of Basildon Borough.  A number of the buildings along the high street, and around it, are listed.

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The town is first record in 1291 as ‘Byllyrica’.  The exact meaning of the name is not known.  The discovery of a Roman fort at Blunts Wall Farm could suggest a Romano-British meaning,

 

Some suggestions are ‘Villa Erica’, a Romano-British term for ‘Heather Villa.   There is also ‘bellerīca’, a Latin word for a dyehouse or tanhouse, or ‘billers’, which is a traditionational name for watercress.  Cress was farmed in Billericay from springs during the last century.

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Norsey Wood covers over 160 acres of land in Billericay and is a short walk from the High Street.  In 1381 the young King Richard II’s men killed around 500 Essexmen during the Battle of Billericay, which is thought to have taken place in Norsey Wood, as part of the Peasants Revolt.  The dead were buried in Great Burstead churchyard. 

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On 16 September 1620 The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, Devon heading towards the New World.  It lowered its anchor off the coast of Cape Cod on 19 November.

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Amongst the passengers were Christopher and Mary Martin (nee Prowse), as well as Simon Prowse who is likely to be a son from a previous marriage.  Christopher and Mary’s marriage in Great Burstead during 1607 is the earliest record of the two.

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A late Iron Age glass bead was discovered in the wood during 1887.  In 1994 a chance find revealed a stone age axehead in the wood.  It's not sure whereabouts it was found.  It was just the latest in a number of prehistoric finds in the area.

 

The woodland was saved from redevelopment in the 1970’s when the council bought it.  Redevelopment had already seen a Bronze Age burial mound, or Tumulus, cleared.  One more survives to this day though it was excavated in 1865 revealing urns containing cremated remains.

 

The town is also the home to the boroughs oldest football club, Billericay Town F.C. who were formed in 1880.  The town was also home to Billericay Albion F.C., Billericay Thursday F.C. and Billericay Rangers F.C.

 

The Church of Mary Magdalen stands on the High Street by the entrance to Chapel Street.

 

A chapel was built on the site, probably during the 14th Century with the tower being constructed in the 15th century.  The chapel was rebuilt in the 1700’s, with an extension added in the 1840’s.

 

The clock on the tower was installed in 1897 to commemorate the 60th year of Queen Victoria’s reign.  Renovations were carried out in the 1950’s, which also linked it to the Church House next door.  It was during 1955 that the church was Grade II listed. Further renovations were carried out during the 1970’s.

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