Hutton, to the east of Brentwood centre, is a small village to the west of neighbouring Billericay. Whilst a small area of Brentwood Borough, it is considered a central part to the suburban fabric of Brentwood. Hutton can be largely divided between two sections - Hutton and Hutton Mount - the latter being the significantly more affluent contingent of the area. Houses in the Hutton area are likely to sell for around £400,000, whilst houses currently on the market in Hutton Mount, less than a 10 minute drive away, are in the range of £3 million! As such, the Hutton locale has a diverse set of housing stock, from large country manors and detached housing, to council houses and affordable properties.

Like many of the villages in the Brentwood Borough, Hutton began as a small civil parish before being absorbed into Brentwood in 1934. However, the history of Hutton’s abdundance of affordable housing comes from the Labour politican and social reformer George Lansbury. Lansbury was responsible for tirelessly campaigning for social equity and was a hugely instrumental of the abolition of the Poor Laws in 1929. He did this as a member of the Board of Guardians for the Poor Laws in Poplar, and during his time as board member convinced the board to fund an ambitious community project in Hutton, aimed at housing the impoverished children of Poplar. The Hutton Poplars could house anywhere from 400-700 children at any given time, and was developed to be a self-sufficient community with its own shops! Completed in 1906, the Hutton Poplars are a staple part of the identity of the Hutton locale. The home was closed in 1982, and refurbished by Brentwood council in 1991. The hall is still open to hire for events, and a social housing block was developed on the premises, mimicking the style of the original Poplar’s design. The red-brick building is at the heart of Hutton’s identity.

There is a strong community spirit in Hutton, and resident’s are fiercely protective of their area. Although Brentwood Borough is in the process of a major regeneration works across the breadth of the borough, Hutton and Hutton Mount are largely untouched by these developments. However, the housing stock of the Hutton and Hutton Mount area is incredibly diverse and varied, and there is something for everybody here!