Glimpse history through old images of West Thurrock, Essex, England.
West Thurrock is one of three “Thurrocks”, the others being Little Thurrock and Grays Thurrock.
Quarry Development
In the 1970s, the cement quarries in West Thurrock were still being worked. But after 20 years of quarrying on the site, there were about 5,000 acres needing a plan for development, especially as the land was already starting to be used to dump refuse.
John Stapleton interviewed Britain’s first Wasteland Reclamation Officer, a local authority officer, and a Conservative councilllor.
Thurrock: Refill Quarries (1970-1979) – British Pathé on YouTube
Historic Book
Extract from: Stifford and Its Neighbourhood, Past and Present. Printed for Private Circulation, by William Palin
Published in 1871
Pages 32 – 33
WEST THURROCK .
In West Thurrock (Domesday, vol. ii. p.24) the principal part of the parish was held by the
Bishop of Bayeux as the capital – tenant under the king .
His under – tenant ,
Hugo , here , as in Stifford , succeeded Ulwin , the Saxon freeholder .
He was
also enfeoffed in the land of another Saxon , Alward by name .
Mannic , a
third Saxon proprietor , was replaced by Anschetill , another fendatory of the
Bishop of Bayeux .
The amount of land in West Thurrock over which the
feudal rights of this prelate extended was 4 hides and 80 acres .
In addition to this , must be added 14 hides and 42 acres that were pos
sessed in Edward the Confessor’s time by eleven freeholders . This land was
unlawfully seized by Tedric Pointel , but was taken into the king’s hands
afterwards .
This makes the amount of enclosed land in West Thurrock 782 acres .
We also find pasture for 130 sheep recorded in this parish . But of wood
land there was only enough for 15 hogs . There were 24 acres of meadow .
On the land occupied by Hugo , the arable had decreased from three carucates
[ ploughgangs ] to only one , but the money value was increased from 50s . to
60s . The recorded population is only 2 bordars .
The manor occupied by Anschetil contained 340 acres ; in Saxon times 3 bordars and 6 slaves were there , but under the rule of Anschetil there
were no slaves , but instead 2 villeins and 8 bordars .
The amount of arable
remained the same ; the value was increased from £ 3 to £ 4 .
More about Essex
- Old Images of Purfleet (Purfleet-on-Thames), Essex
- Old Images of Wickford, Essex
- Old Images of West Thurrock, Essex
- Old Images of Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
- Old Images of Tilbury, Essex
- Old Images of Thaxted, Essex
- Old Images of South Ockenden, Essex
- Old Images of Shoeburyness, Essex
- Old Images of Rochford, Essex
- Old Images of Maldon, Essex
- Old Images of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
- Old Images of Harwich, Essex
- Old Images of Harlow, Essex
- Old Images of Halstead, Essex
- Old Images of Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
- Old Images of Chigwell, Essex
- Old Images of Canvey Island, Essex
- Old Images of Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex
- Old Images of Basildon, Essex
- Old Images of Brightlingsea, Essex
