Chafford Hundred
Extends about eight miles alongthe northbank of the river Thames, opposite Erith Reach, Long Reach, and St. Clement’s Reach ; from Hornchurch Marsh to Grays Thurrock. It extends about 12 miles northward, but decreases from 7 to 2 miles in breadth. The small river Ingerbourn flows along its western boundary to the river Thames; and other rivulets flow through it, and unite their waters with the Thames at Purfleet and Cold Harbour. It is crossed near South Weald and Brentwood by the Eastern Counties Railway; and, on the banks of the Thames, by the Tilbury and Southend Railway. It is in the Southern Parliamentary Division of Essex, in the Diocese of Rochester, Archdeaconry of Essex, and Deanary of Chafford. It has a fertile soil, and picturesquely undulated and well-wooded surface, with many handsome seats-some of them commanding fine views of the busy Thames and the Kentish hills. The following enumeration of its fourteen parishes, and four hamlets, shews their territorial extent and their population in 1851.
Parishes
Aveley parish 2852 acres 811 population
Childerditch parish 1470 acres 209 population
Cranham 1875 acres 331 population
Ockendon North 1703 acres 338 population
Ockendon South 2872 acres 1021 population
Rainham 3160 acres 868 population
South Weald parish 4650 acres 1383 population
Brentwood chapelry 460 acres 2205 population
Stifford parish 1547 acres 320 population
Thurrock (Grays) 1332 acres 1713 population
Thurrock (West) 2863 acres 754 population
Purfleet hamlet
Purfleet Barracks 0 acres 81 population
Upminster parish 3157 acres 1228 population
Warley Great 2653 acres 2952 population
Warley Little 1651 acres 344 population
Warley Barracks 0 acres 644 population
Wennington parish 1285 acres 177 population
Total 34,180 acres 13,379 population
Those marked * are in the Liberty of the Duchy of Lancaster.
UNIONS : Aveley, North and South Ockendon, Stifford, Grays and West Thurrock, and Purfleet, are in Orsett Union ; Cranham, Rainham, Upminster, Great Warley, and Wennington, are in Romford Union; and Childerditch, South Weald, Brentwood, and Little Warley, are in Billericay Union.