Braintree

Braintree is another of Essex’s ancient towns and is situated on the old roman road that runs between St. Albans and Colchester.

One of its most impressive attractions is Cressing Temple, which is mostly the work of the Knights Templar. Queen Matilda gave this order of warrior monks the Cressing estate in 1137 and it became the largest in Essex. Though it is in the last four to five hundred years that the town has flourished. Originally, the main trade was in woollen cloth but when that industry declined it shifted to silk manufacture.

Braintree is now an attractive town, where ancient and new buildings are successfully combined. The Braintree District Museum tells the story of the history of the area.