East Tilbury
Encyclopedia
East Tilbury is a village in the unitary authority of Thurrock
borough, England
and one of the traditional (Church of England) parishes in Thurrock.
History of the English Church.
In the 1860s, Coalhouse Fort
was constructed on the bank of the Thames, close to the parish church. This fort was an active part of the defences of London up to and including World War II
, having originally been developed as a precaution against French ironclads
approaching London up the Thames it was refortified with new armaments as threats changed over the years.
From 1894 to 1936 East Tilbury was part of the Orsett Rural District
. The East Tilbury Civil Parish was abolished in 1936 when the area became part of Thurrock Urban District
.
The construction of a Bata Shoes factory
in the 1930s resulted in substantial development in East Tilbury. The factory has since closed down.
The Bata company
developed not only a factory, but also a town for workers, built in the modernist style, and a sizeable estate of listed buildings remains. A sizeable Czech workforce was relocated here, and has merged into the local community after connections were lost with Czechoslovakia
after the Second World war. John Tusa
's father became manager of the factory.
on the Tilbury branch of the c2c
service from London Fenchurch Street
to Southend Central
via Ockendon
. East Tilbury is also served by the Ensignbus
bus route 374 which operates between Grays
bus station and Basildon
on Mondays to Saturdays.
It is located about 2 miles south of the A13 road from London
to Southend
.
East Tilbury does not have a developed shopping centre; its nearest major retail centres are located at Basildon
and Lakeside
.
redevelopment zone and responsibility for delivery in this area is with the Thurrock Development Corporation
. Large sections of Metropolitan Green Belt
land have been earmarked for development; it is expected to include 14,000 homes and provide 20,000 jobs. East Tilbury is one of seven conservation areas in Thurrock.
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
borough, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and one of the traditional (Church of England) parishes in Thurrock.
History
In Saxon times, the location on which the church now stands was surrounded by tidal marshland. This is the probable location for the minster church established by St Cedd at Tilaburg which is mentioned in Bede'sBede
Bede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
History of the English Church.
In the 1860s, Coalhouse Fort
Coalhouse Fort
Coalhouse Fort is a large casemated fort in East Tilbury, near the modern town of Tilbury, in Thurrock, Essex, downstream from Tilbury Fort. It contains a museum of memorabilia from World War I and II.-History of the fort:...
was constructed on the bank of the Thames, close to the parish church. This fort was an active part of the defences of London up to and including World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, having originally been developed as a precaution against French ironclads
Ironclad warship
An ironclad was a steam-propelled warship in the early part of the second half of the 19th century, protected by iron or steel armor plates. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. The first ironclad battleship, La Gloire,...
approaching London up the Thames it was refortified with new armaments as threats changed over the years.
From 1894 to 1936 East Tilbury was part of the Orsett Rural District
Orsett Rural District
Orsett Rural District was a local government district in south Essex, England from 1894 to 1936. It was formed as a rural district in 1894. From 1835, the constituent parishes had made up the Orsett Poor Law Union and from 1875 they also formed the Orsett RSD....
. The East Tilbury Civil Parish was abolished in 1936 when the area became part of Thurrock Urban District
Thurrock Urban District
Thurrock was a local government district and civil parish in south Essex, England from 1936 to 1974.The parish and urban district was formed from the former area of the following civil parishes which had been abolished in 1936:...
.
The construction of a Bata Shoes factory
Bata shoe factory (East Tilbury)
The Bata shoe factory in East Tilbury is what remains of an industrial estate in Essex which produced shoes for over 70 years. Founded in 1932 by Tomáš Baťa, the factory was "one of the most important planned landscapes in the East of England" in the 20th Century...
in the 1930s resulted in substantial development in East Tilbury. The factory has since closed down.
The Bata company
Bata Shoes
Bata Shoes is a large, family owned shoe company based in Bermuda but currently headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, operating 3 business units worldwide – Bata Metro Markets, Bata Emerging Markets and Bata Branded Business. It has a retail presence in over 50 countries and production...
developed not only a factory, but also a town for workers, built in the modernist style, and a sizeable estate of listed buildings remains. A sizeable Czech workforce was relocated here, and has merged into the local community after connections were lost with Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
after the Second World war. John Tusa
John Tusa
Sir John Tusa is a British arts administrator, and radio and television journalist. From 1980 to 1986 he was a main presenter of BBC 2's Newsnight programme. From 1995 until 2007 he was managing director of the City of London's Barbican Arts Centre...
's father became manager of the factory.
Education
East Tilbury is served by modern infants and junior schools sharing a site opposite the old Bata factory and adjacent to parkland. The junior school recently acquired foundation status.http://www.easttilburyjunior.thurrock.sch.ukCommunications and facilities
The town is served by East Tilbury railway stationEast Tilbury railway station
East Tilbury railway station is a railway station located in the village of East Tilbury in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in the East of England....
on the Tilbury branch of the c2c
C2c
c2c is a British train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides passenger rail services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway...
service from London Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street railway station
Fenchurch Street railway station, also known as London Fenchurch Street, is a central London railway terminus in the south eastern corner of the City of London, England. The station is one of the smallest terminals in London in terms of platforms and one of the most intensively operated...
to Southend Central
Southend Central railway station
Southend Central is a railway station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. Train services are provided by the National Express Group train operating company c2c...
via Ockendon
Ockendon railway station
Ockendon station is a railway station located in South Ockendon in the borough of Thurrock, England. The station is located between Upminster and Chafford Hundred and is down the line from its London terminus at Fenchurch Street. The station is located on a passing loop of a single track branch...
. East Tilbury is also served by the Ensignbus
Ensignbus
Ensignbus is a Purfleet-based bus and coach dealer, open top bus tour operator and bus service operator. Ensignbus has amassed 20 ex-London vehicles of various ages and conditions in a ....
bus route 374 which operates between Grays
Grays
Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes...
bus station and Basildon
Basildon
Basildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
on Mondays to Saturdays.
It is located about 2 miles south of the A13 road from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Southend
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
.
East Tilbury does not have a developed shopping centre; its nearest major retail centres are located at Basildon
Basildon
Basildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
and Lakeside
Lakeside Shopping Centre
The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London...
.
Developments
The area forms part of the Thames GatewayThames Gateway
The Thames Gateway is an area of land stretching east from inner east London on both sides of the River Thames and the Thames Estuary. The area, which includes much brownfield land, has been designated a national priority for urban regeneration, taking advantage of the development opportunities...
redevelopment zone and responsibility for delivery in this area is with the Thurrock Development Corporation
Thurrock Development Corporation
Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government. It is an Urban Development Corporation set up by the Government of the United Kingdom covering the entire the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock...
. Large sections of Metropolitan Green Belt
Metropolitan Green Belt
The Metropolitan Green Belt is a statutory green belt around London, England. It includes designated parts of Greater London and the surrounding counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey in the South East and East of England regions.-History:The...
land have been earmarked for development; it is expected to include 14,000 homes and provide 20,000 jobs. East Tilbury is one of seven conservation areas in Thurrock.