In 1620 four local people were on board the Mayflower as it sailed to Massachusetts, to establish the first English settlement in what would become the north of the United States.

[3] The urban settlement, which was within the manor and parish of Great Burstead, was one of many founded in the late 13th century in an already densely populated rural landscape.

In Billericay there is a Roman fort at Blunt's Wall Farm; likewise ‘Burh’ gives its name to Great Burstead.

[3] The town of Billericay, first recorded as "Byllyrica" in 1291,[3] is understood to have been founded in the 13th century by the Abbot of West Ham, head of the Cistercian community of Stratford Langthorne Abbey, twenty miles away on the Lower Lea, in what is now inner London.

Four local people (Thomas Watts, Joan Hornes, Elizabeth Thackwell and Margaret Ellis) were burnt at the stake.

Two other residents (Joan Potter and James Harris) were tortured for their Protestant faith during the reign of Queen Mary.

Unfortunately the Speedwell developed leaks and so the ships headed for the Devon coast to repair her, but this proved impossible; the Mayflower eventually sailed from Plymouth without her.

The unfortunate fate of the would-be pioneers did not deter other inhabitants of Billericay from setting sail for the New World.

During its fiery demise, it narrowly missed the High Street, crashing into a field off Greens Farm Lane.

Recent research has indicated that this may be identified with the 'ghost Zeppelin' of Tonbridge which was allegedly seen floating over that town earlier in the day.

[11] Billericay has two main parks, Lake Meadows[12] and the Queen Elizabeth 2nd Playing Field (usually known as Sun Corner).

Norsey Wood and Mill Meadows act as 'green wedges' in that they extend from the open countryside to the centre of town.

Both Mill Meadows and Norsey Wood are environmentally valuable and sensitive, and have, in part or whole, been designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as a result.

Centuries of grazing have created the ideal conditions for a wonderful diversity of wild flowers, fungi, insects and invertebrates, many of which are very rare.

It contains an area of 16.63 acres (6.73 ha) that has been declared as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its unimproved neutral grassland.

The Billericay Poor Law Union created in 1835 gradually took on local government powers, becoming a rural sanitary district in 1872 which in turn became the Billericay Rural District in 1894, when a Great Burstead Parish Council was also created covering the parish which included the town.

Services between London Liverpool Street, Shenfield and Southend Victoria are operated by Greater Anglia; some trains in peak hours run to Southminster.

[22] Local bus services are operated by First Essex, which connect Billericay with Chelmsford, Basildon, Brentwood and Wickford.

The railway station bus stop connects to many routes, including service 300 which operates regularly between Basildon and Chelmsford.

[23] The town was established at the crossroads (at Sun Corner) of the roads now known as the B1007 (higher grade parts of which are designated the A176) and A129.

[24] Some areas of town can also receive BBC East and ITV Anglia from the Sudbury TV transmitter.

The Billericay Community Archive strives to record photos, memories and history relating to the town and surrounding areas on their website.