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| | Basildon History Online |
 | | This is often overlooked or unknown by some who are of the belief that Basildon was "nothing but fields" before the coming of the new town and its early pioneers in the 1950s. |
 | | In fact the name Basildon is not new at all, being of Saxon origin meaning 'Beorhtels Hill', but in the 1940s was little more than a small village near the site of Holy Cross Church. |
 | | Census statistics for the Basildon district comprising Laindon, Pitsea, Vange, Lee Chapel, Dunton etc. stood at 4,449 by 1921 reaching 12,968 by 1931 and rising still further to 34,000 by 1951 - the year Basildon welcomed its first 'new' residents. |
| www.basildon.com /history/home.html (496 words) |
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