Gray

Grays
Grays shown within Essex
Population	36,601(2001 Census)
OS grid reference	TQ615773
Unitary authority	Thurrock
Ceremonial county	Essex
Region	East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	GRAYS
Postcode district	RM17
Dialling code	01375
Police	Essex
Fire	Essex
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	Thurrock
European Parliament	East of England
List of places: UK • England • Essex

Coordinates: 51°′″N 0°′″E / 51.4724, 0.3247

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 Theatre (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 (1998 film)). 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 container 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.

Grays is also home to The Fat Surfer, a live music venue. There are bands every Friday from 7:30 till 11:00.

The Loyal Order of Moose is represented by a Grays lodge who meet on the third Friday of the month at 'The Mess' at 78 High Street, which is the Royal British Legion Club for Thurrock. The Mess was severely damaged by fire in May 2007 and is currently out of use until extensive repairs have been made.

The local Sixth form college is Palmer's College, also Thurrock college is in Grays leading towards Chadwell St Mary, opposite Palmer's College

Geography

Nearest places:

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

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.

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.

History

A map of the town from 1946

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.

Famous people from Grays

• Russell Brand
• Joe Pasquale
• Stuart Barnes
• Mick Jackson

External links

• Grays Thurrock - White's Directory of Essex, 1848
• Bygone Grays Thurrock- Local history website
• Lakeside Hammers Speedway
• Thurrock Local History Society
• Current map

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