BRENTWOOD, urban district, Essex, England; 18m. N.E. of London by the L.N.E. railway (Brentwood and Warley sta tion) . Population (1931) 7,209. The neighbouring country is undulating and well wooded. Brentwood was formerly an impor tant posting station on the main road to the eastern counties, which follows the line of the railway to Colchester. The name (Burntwood) is supposed to record an original settlement made in a clearing of the forest. The district is largely residential. The old assize house, an Elizabethan structure, remains. A free gram mar school was founded in 1557. The county asylum is in the vicinity. There are breweries and brick works. To the south lies Warley Common, with large barracks.