In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Grays Thurrock like this:
GRAYS THURROCK, or GRAYs, a small town and a parish in Orsett district, Essex. The town stands on the Thames, and on the London and Southend railway, between Fiddler's Reach and Northfleet Hope, 3 miles WNW of Tilbury Fort, and 10 SE of Romford; consists chiefly of one street, irregularly built, extending along a small creek; contains many new houses; was given, in 1194, by Richard I. ...
to Henry de Grey; is a seat of petty sessions; and has a station on the railway, a post office, ‡ of the game of Grays, under Romford, London E, and a pier 400 feet long. A weekly market is held on Thursday; fairs are held on 23 May and 20 Oct.; and a large trade is carried on in the export of bricks to London. The parish comprises 1, 374 acres of land, and 260 of water. Real property, £6, 889. Pop. in 1851, 1, 713; in 1861, 2, 209. Houses, 400. The increase of pop. arose from the influence of the railway, and from the establishmegt of a chemical manufactory. The property is got much divided. Belmont Castle, about a mile from the town, the seat of R. Webb, Esq., is a modern Gothic edifice, and stands on an eminence, amid fine grounds. A whale, 58 feet long, came ashore at the parish in Oct. 1849. Brick making, and chalk-limeburning are largely carried on. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £250. * Patron, James Theobald, Esq. The church is cruciform and good; and has a tower, with a recent low spire. There are a national school, a free grammar school, and some charities.
Grays Thurrock through time
Grays Thurrock is now part of Thurrock district. Click here for graphs and data of how Thurrock has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Grays Thurrock itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Grays Thurrock, in Thurrock and Essex | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/137
Date accessed: 16th April 2024
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