Halstead's Industrial Heritage
Looking at Halstead as it is today you would be forgiven for thinking that there is little to link it to an industrial past. But dig beneath the surface and you quickly find links to world beating businesses with strong links to the area. Many of these businesses are just distant memories but others still survive operating under different names and not directly linked to Halstead today. The sections below take you to pages that cover the history of some of the most well know industries of the area, these pages will develop over time.
If you have any information relating to these businesses or others in the area, please get in touch via email at: info@halsteadhistory.org.uk.
W. A. Hunwicks and Co. Ltd.
The Hunwick story began during World War Two when Mr W.A. Hunwicks, a farmer and general engineer, having been ‘bombed out’ during the war, moved his small business from the outskirts of London to Halstead where he leased the old Paper Mill buildings in Chapel Street.
Halstead's direct association with the firm ended in 2014, however the business carries on under the name 'Hunwick Engineering', which is part of larger overall group, in the nearby village of Gosfield.
Evans Electroselenium Ltd.
Established in Harlow, Essex in 1938 Evans Electroselenium Ltd. (EEL) was the brainchild of Arthur E. Evans and his brother Ernie. The business had a number of sites including Harlow, Bocking, Halstead and in later years, Sudbury in Suffolk. Ownership of the business has passed to a number of organisations, it currently forms part of Siemen's Healthcare operating from a large site in Sudbury.
Halstead's association with the firm ended in 2003, however a number of the present companies employees still travel from Halstead to the Sudbury site.