Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
If you would like to write a summary for this topic, email phil [at] gyford [dot] com
Wikipedia
Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex, and is situated approximately 20 miles (32km) to the east of London on the north bank of the River Thames.
Local sites of interest include the Thameside Theatre, the Thurrock History Museum, Grays Beach and the now-disused State Cinema (which was used as a location in the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and for sections of Jamiroquai's video of "Deeper Underground" for the film Godzilla). The ancient local manor of Grays Thurrock was granted by Richard I in 1195 to Henry de Gray, a descendant of the Norman knight Anchetil de Greye.
From the top of the Derby Road Bridge in Grays you can look down to Thurrock Yacht Club, Grays Beach children's playground and the River Thames where you can occasionally see large ships travelling up and down.
As well as Thurrock Yacht Club, Grays Beach is the site of the local landmark The Gull, a lightship built in 1860, which has lain on the foreshore for decades and is now in a serious state of dilapidation.
The local Sixth form college is Palmer's College, also Thurrock College is in Grays leading towards Chadwell St Mary, opposite Palmer's College.
[edit] Geography
Nearest places:
- Aveley
- Chadwell St Mary
- Chafford Hundred
- North Stifford
- Orsett
- Purfleet
- South Ockendon
- South Stifford
- Tilbury
- West Thurrock
[edit] Transport
Grays has good road links, being close to the A13 road and the M25 motorway. London Road is the main road which links Grays town centre with Lakeside Shopping Centre and Purfleet.
The local railway station is Grays railway station, which is served by c2c and runs between Fenchurch Street station in the City of London to the west and Shoeburyness to the east.
[edit] Sport
Bridge Road is also home to the area's local football team, Grays Athletic F.C., who play in the Football Conference and were two time, back to back winners of the FA Trophy competition. Former players of note from Grays Athletic, include Michael Kightly, Freddy Eastwood, Gary Hooper, Sam Sodje, Eddie Youds and Carl Leaburn.
Lakeside Hammers speedway team (formerly Arena Essex Hammers) races nearby, next to the Lakeside Shopping Centre.
[edit] History
Grays/Chafford Hundred are the homes of three Victorian chalk pits. The two largest are known as the Lion Gorge, and the Warren Gorge.
The area in which Chafford Hundred is built was once a Victorian landfill site.
[edit] Education
Schools in Grays include; Gateway Academy, Grays Convent High School, William Edwards School & Sports College, Grays School Media Arts College, Deneholm Primary, Little Thurrock Primary, Quarry Hill Infant and Junior, St Thomas Of Canterbury Catholic Primary, Stifford Clays Infant and Junior, Stifford Primary, Thameside Infant and Junior School and Treetops School.
The local sixth form college is Palmer's College, whilst other colleges in Grays include Thurrock & Basildon College (Woodview Campus) and Thurrock Adult Community College.
[edit] Famous people from Grays
- Stuart Barnes
- Russell Brand
- Mick Jackson
- Cecil Jackson-Cole, co-founder of Oxfam and Help the Aged
- Joe Pasquale
- Alfred Russel Wallace
[edit] External links
Annotations
-
Pepys refers to this town in Essex as Grays Market, or Grayes-market, on at least one occasion.
References in the diary
- 1660
-
Apr: 5