The original hamlet of Silver End

Before Francis Crittall built the village of Silver End in 1926 to house the workers in his factory, Silver End was a small collection of dwellings, an inn, farm, cottages and a forge within the parish of Rivenhall. Western Lane was the main thoroughfare between this location and Rivenhall place, the home of the Western family, who also owned the land. Western Road was a later addition.

Today, all the cottages have gone, replaced by modern brick built houses and bungalows. The inn, the Western Arms; the farm, Bowers Hall; and the forge, now used for storage, still stand.