Grays Thurrock 1863 Whites Directory

GRAYS THURROCK, commonly called GRAYS, is a small ancient town on the north bank of the river Thames, 20 1/2 miles E. by S. of Whitechapel, and 4 miles 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 60 years ago. It has a pleasure fair 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 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 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 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. Richard 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 Oapt. 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. Os. 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 Whitecross 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 £lOO, 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 of coals are annually distributed among the poor. 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 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.
South Essex Water Works Company was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1861-2, with a capital of £80,000, in £10 snares, 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 chalkpits 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.

POST OFFICE at Thomas Hewer's.   Letters despatched at 4 afternoon.
Money Orders granted and paid.

RAILWAY   Trains to London and Southend, 9 times a day.