Grays Thurrock 1848 Whites directory
GRAYS THURROCK, or Greys Thurrock, is a small ancient town on the north bank of the river Thames, 20 miles E. by S. of Whitechapel, and 4 miles N.W. by W. of Gravesend. It has a small creek or harbour, which receives hoys and other vessels as large as 300 tons ; and has a wooden pier, 400 feet long, constructed in 1841, at the cost of £2500, by a company of proprietors, in £10 shares. The London and Gravesend steam vessels call at the pier five 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 quarries, in which many curious fossils are found. 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 30 years ago. It has still fairs for cattle, &c , on May 23rd and Oct. 20th.
Its parish contains 1332A. of land, and had only 677 inhabitants in 1801 ; but in 1831 , they had increased to 1248, and in 1841 , to 1464 souls. It received the distinguishing part of its name from the noble family of Grey, 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 of Lancaster and honor of Mandeville. James Theobald, Esq. , is now lord of the manor and owner of most of the soil.
BELMONT CASTLE, the delightful seat of Richard Webb, Esq., belongs to Geo. R. Hilliard, and stands half a mile 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 a costly 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. The pleasure grounds are tastefully disposed and ornamented with trees and shrubs of great value and of beautiful forms.
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 three bells, and is crowned by asmall spire. The benefice is a discharged vicarage, valued in K.B. at £5. 0s. 10d. , and in 1831 at £160. James Theobald, Esq. , is patron, and the Rev. H. S. Hele, M.A., is the incumbent, and has a neat residence, but no glebe. e, M.A., is the incumbent, and has a neat residence, but no glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1837, the vicarial for £230, and the rectorial for £250. The latter belong to J. Errington, Esq. The old Town Hall was converted into an Independent Chapel in 1836 ; and here is 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 to 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 is required to teach 20 poor boys as free scholars ; and four of them are clothed by the trustees, at the annual cost of £9. Five chaldron of coals are annually distributed, one to the Charity School, and the other four to about 65 poor families. The sum of £1 per annum is applied in monthly doles of bread ; and £1 for a sermon on the 5th of November. The founder directed that the surplus income should be liable to the repairs of the parish causeway, and to a yearly allowance of 40s. for the entertainment of the churchwardens and overseers, on Nov. 5th, when they should meet to enquire into the management of the charity. Sir T. B. Lennard, his four sons, and others were appointed trustees, in 1818. The poor parishioners have the interest of £14 derived from the gift of a Mr. Brandon. They had a yearly rent of £4, left by Wm. Hansworth, in 1759, out of four houses; but the owner (Mr. J. H. Brand,) refused to pay it in 1834, alleging that it was void by the statute of Mortmain.
GRAYS THURROCK.
Post- Office at Mr Thomas Hewer’s. Letters despatched at four afternoon
Andrews Joseph, plumber & glazier
Blaker (Peter, ) & Seabrooke (James,) wharfingers and coal, corn, and salt merchants
Coker Wm. wood turner
Cribb Alfred, bricklayer
Curtis Mr John, junior
Ford James, surgeon
Daniels John, blacksmith
Harvey William, schoolmaster
Downs John Henry, maltster, &c.
Hele Rev. Hy. Selby, M.A., Vicarage
Harrison Wm. plumber and glazier
Horncastle Wm. schoolmaster
Jackson Wm. tailor
Meeson, Errington, & Co. coal, corn, lime, &c. merchant, and brick and tile makers, Grays Wharf
Meeson Richard, merchant & John, farmer
Osborn James, bricklayer & builder
Oxley John, tailor, & Ann, dressmaker
Rimington Capt. Samuel, coast guard
Seabrooke Thomas, gentleman
Seabrooke James, brewer & maltster
Smith William, corn mert. & wharfinger|
Stedman John, surgeon
Sturgeon Thomas Bennett, miller and farmer
Talbot Robert, joiner and builder
Wall William, hairdresser, &c.
Warren Thomas, hairdresser
Webb Rd. & Richard Charles, Esqrs., Belmont Castle
West Hartwell, gentleman
Williams John, brick & tile maker
Woolnough Ann, schoolmistress
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Bull, James Aldon
King’s Arms, Thomas Gilbert, (horse letter, and wine and spirit mercht)
Rising Sun, Alfred Cribb
Sailor’s Return, Mary Ann Jones
Theobald’s Arms, Daniel Kirkman
White Hart, James Staines
BEER HOUSES.
Flower W. L.,
Banham Isaac
Bateman James
Fox George B.
BAKERS.
Boyton Samuel
Hallam Joseph
Pake William
Sneezum Benj .
BOOT& SHOE MKRS
Coker William
Moyse John
Smith George
Straight Walter
BUTCHERS.
Cattaway Jas. Jno.
Fordham Thomas
Hutchins John
Kirkman Daniel
Smith George
GROCERS.
Argent Jesse
Barnes Charles
Blaker Martha
Cowell Richard (Executors)
Landfield William L.
Summers Eliz
LIGHTERMEN.
Barratt Richard
Blaker Peter
Cattaway J. J.
Smith William
LINEN DRAPERS
Argent Jesse
Hewer Thomas
Pyrke Thomas
STEAM VESSELS
from Pier to London and Gravesend, 5times a day.
TRADING VESSELS from the Wharfs to London daily.
CARRIER.
William West, to London, Sunday and Thursday.