East Tilbury

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's 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 World War II . John Tusa'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.[1]

Communications and facilities

The town is served by East Tilbury railway station on the Tilbury branch of the c2c service from London Fenchurch Street to Southend Central via Ockendon. East Tilbury is also served by the Amber Coaches 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.

Developments

The area forms part of the Thames Gateway 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.

On the northern end of the town is a small park called 'Gobion Park'. This got a development grant in 2009 of £50,000. The name may have come from Sir Richard Gobion from UpHavering.