Basildon
{{infobox England place with map|
Place= Basildon | Map = Basildon - Essex dot.png | Population = 165,000+ | District= Basildon | County= Essex | Region= East of England | Ceremonial= Essex | Traditional= Essex | Constituency= Basildon | PostalTown= BASILDON | PostCode= SS13 and SS14 | DiallingCode= 01268 | GridReference= TQ735895 | Police= Essex Police | Euro= East of EnglandBasildon is a new town in the Basildon district of Essex in the East of England. It is located 26.7 miles (43 km) east north-east of Charing Cross in London.
It was designated as a new town in 1949 to accommodate the overspill from London, to attract Londoners to the country. The town was formed from several smaller towns, Pitsea, Laindon and Vange. The larger Basildon district, formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, includes Billericay and Wickford. Basildon is bordered by Chelmsford to the north, Billericay to the north west, Southend to the east and Thurrock to the south.
Basildon can be traced as far back as 1086 and is mentioned in the Domesday Book as 'Behoter'. This is thought to refer to the 'Beorthals Hill' which was an area near what is now Holy Cross, Church Road just off of Whitmore Way. It appears that the name 'Basildon' comes from the Anglo-Saxon personal name 'Beorhthealh' and 'dun', the Anglo-Saxon word meaning 'hill'. In the past Basildon has been recorded as Berdlesdon, Bretlesden, Batlesdon, Bastelden, Basseldon and Bassendon.
Basildon constituency is considered to be a barometer of public opinion and has returned General Election results in line with the nation since 1974. Basildon is located at Latitude: 51:34:34N Longitude: 0:29:19E.*Alison Moyet - Singer, joined Vince Clarke from Depeche Mode to form Yazoo
*Dave Gahan - Lead singer from Depeche Mode
*Martin L. Gore - Lead songwriter, guitar and keyboard player from Depeche Mode
*Andrew Fletcher - Keyboard player from Depeche Mode
*Vince Clarke - Songwriter, founder of Depeche Mode, Yazoo and Erasure
*Eamonn Martin - Runner and London Marathon winner
*Joan Sims - Actress from the Carry On films, born in Laindon
*Scott Robinson - singer from 5iveFamous People from the District of Basildon*Chantelle Houghton - Winner of Big Brother (Wickford)*History Online
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