GRAYS THURROCK, commonly called GRAYS, is a small ancient town on the north bank of the river Thames, 20 miles E. by S. of Whitechapel, and 4miles N.W. by W. of Gravesend. It has a railway station on the London, Tilbury, and Southend line ; and a small creek or harbour, which receives hoys and other vessels as large as 300 tons ; and has a wooden pier, 200 feet long, constructed in 1841, at the cost of £2500, by a company of proprietors, in £10 shares. This pier has been altered to serve as a wharf. The London and Gravesend steam vessels call here several times a day, and the town presents a scene of considerable traffic, especially in bricks and tiles, of which large quantities are made here, and sent to London. Here are also extensive lime kilns and chalk pits. The town has likewise a large brewery, and a coast guard, consisting of a captain and seven men. It had formerly a corn market every Thursday, but it declined after the institution of that at Romford, about 50years ago. It has a pleasurefair on May 23rd. Its parish contains 1332A. of land, and had only 677 inhabitants in 1801 ; but in 1831 they had increased to 1248, in 1851 to 1731, and in 1861 to 2145 souls. It received the distinguishing part of its name from the noble family of Grey, or Gray, who held it more than three centuries. Richard de Grey procured it a charter for a weekly market on Friday, (afterwards changed to Thursday), and two annual fairs, in the reign of Henry III.; and the grant was confirmed by Edward III. The manor was granted by Richard I. to Henry de Grey, and it was held by his family till 1521, as parcel of the Duchy ofLancaster and honor of Mandeville. James Theobald, Esq. , is now lord of the manor and owner of most of the soil. BELMONT CASTLE, the pleasant seat of J. S. Rigge, Esq., belongs to Geo. R. Hilliard, and stands half-a-mile N.W. of the town, on the summit of an eminence which rises abruptly from the banks of the Thames.
It was built by the late Zachariah Button, Esq. , who finished it in acostly style of architecture. The centre is a round embattled tower,
in four stories, with spacious apartments, commanding extensive prospects of the river, the shipping, and the rich Kentish enclosures,
to the hills beyond the great Dover road. Richd. Meeson, Esq. , and several smaller owners, have estates in the parish. Grays Gas Works were constructed in 1854, at the cost of £1700, raised in £10 shares. Grays, or the 2nd Essex Rifle Volunteers, numbers about 80 men, commanded by Capt. R. B. W. Baker, Esq.
The Church (St. Peter and St. Paul) was rebuilt by the parishioners in 1846, at the cost of £1800, on its original cruciform plan, and in the Anglo-Norman style. The tower has two bells, and is crowned by a small spire. The benefice is a discharged vicarage, valued in K.B. at £5. 0s. 10d. , and in 1831 at £160. Jas. Theobald, Esq. , is patron, and the Rev. W. H. Richards, BA. , is the incumbent, and has a neat residence. The tithes were commuted in 1837- the vicarial for £250, and the rectorial for £230. The latter belong to J. Errington, Esq. Here is an Independent Chapel, built in 1858, and a small Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1847. Here are several Sunday Schools, and an endowed Charity School.
In 1706, William Palmer vested in trust, for the foundation of a CHARITY SCHOOL, and other charitable uses, in this parish, five tenements in White cross street, and one in Lombard street, London. Part of this property was sold, in 1786, for £600, which was invested in the purchase of £944. 12s. 6d. three-per-cent. consols. The property in London now belonging to the charity consists of the houses numbered 218 and 220,
Whitecross street, and that numbered 43 in Lombard street. These houses are let for about £100, which, added to the dividends of the stock, swells the yearly income of the charity to about £140. By his will, in 1709, the donor gave the school and master’s house. The master has a yearly salary of £70, and the usher £40, and they are required to teach 48 boys as free scholars ; and four of them are clothed by the trustees. Five chaldrons ofcoals are annually distributed among thepoor. The sum of £1 per annum is applied in monthly doles of bread. Sir T. B. Lennard, and 19 others, are trustees. The poor parishioners have the interest of £14 derived from the gift of a Mr. Brandon. They had the yearly rent of £4, left by Wm. Hansworth, in 1759, out of fourhouses ; but the owner (Mr. J. H. Brand) refused to pay it in 1834, alleging that it was void by the statute of Mortmain.
South Essex Water Works’ Company was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1861-2, with a capital of £80,000, in £10 shares, for the purpose of supplying Brentwood, Ilford, Barking, Romford, and other places between Grays and the district adjacent to the eastern suburbs of London, with pure water, from the copious springs which have been opened during the last 50 years, in the extensive chalk pits and quarries at Grays Thurrock.
These springs are capable of producing many million gallons daily, free from organic matter, and easily rendered, by the usual process , far softer than any other water at present supplied to London. It is particularly suitable for shipping, and will keep during the longest voyages without change. The works were commenced in 1862, and the water is to be forced in large pipes to a high service reservoir, on an elevated site, near Warley Barracks. The Company’s Offices are at 8, George yard, Lombard street, London ; and Mr. M. Beale is the secretary.
GRAYS THURROCK.
POST OFFICE at Thomas Hewer’s.
Letters despatched at 4) afternoon. Money Orders granted and paid.
Amonia Company, ulmate of amonia manufacturers. (A. T. Weld, manager)
Andrews Joseph Howard, plumber, &c.
Ash Christopher, farmer
Baylis George, revenue officer
Beale Alfred, hair dresser, &c .
Bennett, John, watchmaker, &c.
Cattaway Jas. John, lighterman
Coker William, wood turner, &c.
Collin (Hy.) & Williams (Rt.L.) solicitors .
Coppin Thomas, greengrocer
Ford Jas. Harridge, surgeon, and agent to Phenix Fire Office
Freeman John, policeman
French Charles, surveyor, &c.
Gilbert Thomas, saddler, ironmonger, implement dealer, agent to Sun Fire Office, &c.
Harrison William, plumber, &c.
Harvey Robert, tea dealer
Heigho George, relieving officer
Henderson Mary Ann, druggist
Herbert Helen, Catholic School
Hope David Graham, engineer, and manager of the Chalk Works
Horncastle Andrew, parish clerk
Horncastle Arthur, printer, newsagent broker, &agent to Norwich Fire Office
Horncastle My. Ann, schoolmistress
Landfield William Leonard, miller, and corn & coal merchant, Pier Lodge
Law William, corn dealer
Legge Richard, greengrocer. & fishmonger.
Manstree John, watchmaker, &c.
Meeson Richd. &Co. lime, chalk and flint works, brick and tile manufacturers &c. Grays Wharf
Meeson Richard Esq.; h Duvals
Merchant Rev. James (Independent)
Moss Charles, Esq. Sherfield House
Nunn Richard Maddock, surgeon
Pitt Mr Charles
Philcox George, station master
Richards Rev. William Henry, B.A. Vicarage
Rigge John Saunderson, Esq. Belmont Castle
Rigge John Morton, schoolmaster
Seabrooke James, brewer, maltster, coal & salt merchant & wharfinger
Smith Josiah, plumber, insurance agt. &c.
Sturgeon Alfred, farmer, &c. Elms
Theobald William, fishmonger
Tuplin Mr Benj.
Talbot Mr Rt.
Weld Arthur Thomas, manager of Amonia Works ; h Stifford Lodge
Woodward Hy. manager, Gas Works
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Bull, William West
Castle, John Cracknell
King’s Arms Hotel, Thomas Gilbert, wine & spirit mert. horseletter, &c.
Railway Hotel, John Howell
Rising Sun, John Wilson
Sailor’s Return, Benj. Sneezum
Theobald’s Arms, William Clark, smith
White Hart, John Crotty
BAKERS.
Steel Caroline
Geo. Sneezum
King Hy George
BEERHOUSES.
Broyd John
West James William
Boot & Shoe Makers
Cobbing J. J. E.
Gibbs George
Olley Thomas
Bricklayers
Hall William, carpenter
Place James
Brickmakers
Davis William
Meeson and Co.
Talbot Robert
BUTCHERS.
Gladwin W. H.
Ives Thos. Hy.
Potter James
Spooner Martin
GROCERS, &c
Harvey Robert
Letch William
Hall Jas. agt. to Leeds & Yorks. Insurance Co.
Miller Charles
Smithson Joseph
Steel Caroline
Taylor Jas. Thomas
Warner William
LINEN DRAPERS.
Argent Jesse
Eveling William
Hewer Thomas
Warner William
TAILORS.
Hutchins John
Oxley John
RAILWAY Trains to London and Southend, 9 times a day.