Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for GRAYS THURROCK, or GRAYs

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.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a small town and a parish"   (ADL Feature Type: "cities")
Administrative units: Grays Thurrock CP/AP       Orsett RegD/PLU       Essex AncC
Place names: GRAYS     |     GRAYS THURROCK     |     GRAYS THURROCK OR GRAYS
Place: Grays Thurrock

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