Bill Meroy Creek
Encyclopedia
Bill Meroy Creek is a small waterway flowing into the Thames to the east of Tilbury Fort
in West Tilbury
which marked the eastern boundary of the area in which duty had to be paid on coal entering London.
unitary authority).
had been taxed
since medieval times. With the coming of the canals and railways, the area in which duty was payable was extended and Bill Meroy Creek defined the eastern end of this area on the north bank of the Thames. To avoid paying this tax, wharfs were established at a number of places just outside the limits including what came to be known as Coalhouse point.
Tilbury Fort
Tilbury Fort is on the north, Essex, bank of the River Thames in England and was built to defend London from attack from the sea, particularly during the Spanish Armada and the Anglo-Dutch Wars...
in West Tilbury
West Tilbury
West Tilbury is a village situated on the top of a river terrace overlooking the river Thames. The modern town of Tilbury is mainly in the traditional parish of Chadwell St Mary.-Location and administration:...
which marked the eastern boundary of the area in which duty had to be paid on coal entering London.
Location
Bill Meroy Creek is to the east of Tilbury Fort in West Tilbury (within the ThurrockThurrock
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....
unitary authority).
Name
The name of Bill Meroy Creek is a corruption of the name William Millroy who was an 18th century cattle farmer. It has also been known as Bilmaroy Creek and Billmarry Creek. It is named on some maps as Ordinance Creek.Coal Duty
Coal sold in the City of LondonCity of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
had been taxed
Coal tax post
Coal-tax posts were marker posts, about 250 in number, first erected in 1851 and forming a rough circle about twenty miles from the centre of London, England, to mark the points where taxes on coal and wine due to the Corporation of London had to be paid....
since medieval times. With the coming of the canals and railways, the area in which duty was payable was extended and Bill Meroy Creek defined the eastern end of this area on the north bank of the Thames. To avoid paying this tax, wharfs were established at a number of places just outside the limits including what came to be known as Coalhouse point.