Crittall is being featured in a new book being published about the history of Essex. The book, Radical Essex, aims to take away some of the stigma surrounding the county, and shine a light on some of its historical architecture, landscape and figures. With support from the Art Council England and Visit England’s Cultural Destinations, the Radical Essex project offers a wide range of events including walking tours, artist projects, and exhibitions. With the help of the Essex Heritage Trust, the project has now been turned into a book.
Crittall’s Silver End village features in the book; a village built by Francis Crittall in the 1920’s as a place for the steel factory workers to live. Francis Crittall designed the village with Thomas Tait and Frederick MacManus, who together created a modernist development well ahead of its time. Francis and his son, W.F Crittall, created show houses throughout Silver End and Braintree in the 1920’s, using them to display modernist architecture and their own steel window products.
Today Silver End is still home to over 3,000 residents and continues to boast the UK’s largest town hall. This something the residents are very proud of and is also a historical landmark for the Crittall name.
To read further about the book, take a look at the article on the Architects Journal https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/culture/modernism-began-in-essex-new-book-celebrates-the-movements-birthplace/10033333.article
Radical Essex is available for purchase now for £20 from Corner House Publications
