Grays

Infobox UK place
official_name= Grays
unitary_england= Thurrock
lieutenancy_england= Essex
region= East of England
country= England
latitude= 51.4724
longitude= 0.3247
population= 36,601(2001 Census)
constituency_westminster= Thurrock
post_town= GRAYS
postcode_area= RM
postcode_district= RM17
dial_code= 01375
os_grid_reference= TQ615773

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.

History

The Grays and Chafford Hundred areas are set within three Victorian chalk pits; the largest two being the Lion Gorge, and the Warren Gorge. The area of the Chafford Hundred residential development is built on a Victorian landfill site.

Geography

Nearest places:

* Aveley
* Chadwell St Mary
* Chafford Hundred
* North Stifford
* Orsett
* Purfleet
* South Ockendon
* South Stifford
* Tilbury
* West Thurrock

Landmarks

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.

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.

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.

ports

Bridge Road is also home to the area's local football team, Grays Athletic, who play in the Football Conference and were two-time winners of the FA Trophy.

Lakeside Hammers speedway team (formerly Arena Essex Hammers) races nearby, next to the Lakeside Shopping Centre.

Notable people

*Stuart Barnes
*Russell Brand
*Danny Crates
*Mick Jackson
*Joe Pasquale
*Alfred Russel Wallace

External links

* [http://www.pavitt4.fsnet.co.uk Bygone Grays Thurrock- Local history website]
* [http://www.lakesidehammers.com Lakeside Hammers Speedway]
* [http://www.thurrock-community.org.uk/historysoc Thurrock Local History Society]