The sites of Iron Age and Roman settlements, including a villa, were discovered in the vicinity of Greenstead Hall, where Saxon pottery was also found.

[4] After the Norman Conquest, in the Middle English of the 11th century, hald was written and spoken as halt, holt, or holð.

[5] Halstead is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Haltesteda and thrice as Halsteda in the Hundred of Hinckford, where it was mainly held by many freemen as feu in 1066, at the time of King Edward.

The wide High Street is dominated by the 14th-century Church of St Andrew, which was extensively renovated in the Victorian period, but retains much older decoration, including tomb monuments from the 14th century and earlier.

Several buildings on the Market Hill contain structures that date from the 14th century including Whispers wine bar which was an oratory with six priests.

An agreement dated 19 January 1825 was drawn up between Beuzeville and Samuel Courtauld and partners for the conversion of Halstead Mill for silk throwing.

The introduction of new technology was important, but the mills remained heavily dependent on labour, much of which was provided by Belgian refugees emigrating to avoid religious persecution..

[7] On the death of Queen Victoria in 1902, much of the black crepe for her funeral cortege was made at Townsford Mill by Samuel Courtauld's company.

Arthur Evans was an industrialist, engineer and businessman who began manufacture of selenium photocells in a small workshop in Harlow, Essex, during the Second World War.

These were of use in military applications and he was encouraged by the Government of National Unity to find larger premises and rapidly expand the business.

Nearby Moyns Park, a Grade I listed Elizabethan country house, is where Ian Fleming put the finishing touches to his novel From Russia, with Love, according to the cover text of some recent editions.

The redundant Trinity Church , which was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott is used for occasional concerts and art exhibitions.

The stone drinking fountain was presented to the town by George Courtauld, and commemorates the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

[12] In birth order: Halstead's three primary schools are Holy Trinity,[16] St Andrew's and Richard de Clare.

There are several other secondary schools within travelling distance; pupils commonly opt for Sible Hedingham, Braintree or Colchester.

[24] Large parts of the valley floor are unable to receive the national D1 and D2 multiplex DAB signals due to their geography and the very low power of the Colchester "booster" transmitter (0.005kW) so as not to interfere with Dutch broadcasting.

[26] The town is home to Halstead Cricket Club, which fields three teams in the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

Other players to have played both first-class cricket and for the club include former Essex and Leicestershire batsman Darren Robinson, international coach Richard Pybus and New Zealand double World Cup finalist Matt Henry.