Purfleet
Encyclopedia
Purfleet is a place in the Thurrock
unitary authority in Essex
, England
. It is situated south of the A13 road on the River Thames
and within the easterly bounds of the M25 motorway
but just outside the Greater London
boundary. It was within the traditional Church of England
parish of West Thurrock
. There is some industry to the south and the area forms part of the Thames Gateway
redevelopment area. Purfleet is one of seven conservation areas in Thurrock.
It was listed by the Ministry of Food as an A-bomb target in the 1950s.
The Royal Opera House
's Bob and Tamar Manoukian scene making facility for their operas and ballets opened on the High House
site in December 2010. The National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural Skills
will open on the site in May 2012.
together with a garrison to protect it. There was a constant danger of explosion as a result of lightning strikes. Benjamin Franklin
was asked for advice on the design of a lightning conductor. When King George III heard what his political opponent had to say, he chose an alternative design. Magazine number 5 is now the Purfleet Garrison Heritage and Military Centre.
In March, 1916, anti-aircraft gunners based at Purfleet shot down the German Zeppelin
LZ15 - a first. As a result the gunners received a prize from the Lord Mayor of London
.
From 1921 to 1936, Purfleet formed an urban district
of Essex
including the parishes of Aveley
, West Thurrock
and South Ockendon
. It covered an area of 8900 acres (36 km²) and in 1931 had a population of 8,511. The parishes and urban district were abolished in 1936 and their former area was used to form part of Thurrock Urban District
.
According to Bram Stoker's book, Count Dracula had an estate here. (See Chapter 2 of 1897 Stoker's Dracula)
(formerly Van den Berghs & Jurgens) works producing Stork
, Flora
, Bertolli
, and ICBINB!
margarine
since 1917, reputed to be the largest in the world. It also has an Esso
lubricants plant and a ro-ro ferry terminal.
There are good transport links to towns such as Basildon
and Grays
, as well as Lakeside Shopping Centre
.
{| class="wikitable"
|Route Number
|Route
|Operation
|Operator
|-
|11
|Purfleet Station
to Chadwell Defoe Parade
via South Ockendon
|Mon-Sat (2 hourly)
|Imperial Buses
|-
|44
|Lakeside Shopping Centre
to Grays Bus Station
via Purfleet and West Thurrock
|Mon-Sat (every 30/60 mins)
Sunday (hourly)
|Ensignbus
,
Arriva Southern Counties
One journey on Ensignbus
route 22 (Aveley to Grays via Lakeside
) operates through Purfleet in the late evening.
Railway services from Purfleet Station
offer frequent services to London Fenchurch Street, Barking
, Grays
, Tilbury
and Southend. The services are operated by c2c
.
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....
unitary authority in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, 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...
. It is situated south of the A13 road on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
and within the easterly bounds of the M25 motorway
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
but just outside the Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
boundary. It was within the traditional Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
parish of West Thurrock
West Thurrock
West Thurrock is a traditional Church of England parish and town in Thurrock, Essex, England, located 17.5 miles east south-east of Charing Cross, London.-Location:...
. There is some industry to the south and the area forms part of the Thames Gateway
Thames 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 area. Purfleet is one of seven conservation areas in Thurrock.
It was listed by the Ministry of Food as an A-bomb target in the 1950s.
The Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
's Bob and Tamar Manoukian scene making facility for their operas and ballets opened on the High House
High House Purfleet
High House is the collective name for a group of historic buildings in Purfleet, Thurrock, Essex , which was used as a farm for hundreds of years, with a Grade II listed house and barn, but with the addition of one of the best dovecotes in Southern England, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument...
site in December 2010. The National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural Skills
Creative & Cultural Skills
Creative & Cultural Skills Creative & Cultural Skills is one of several Sector Skills Councils established by the UK Government to foster the development of a skilled workforce. It covers crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, literary and visual arts...
will open on the site in May 2012.
History
In the 18th century, Purfleet was the location for the storage of gunpowderGunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
together with a garrison to protect it. There was a constant danger of explosion as a result of lightning strikes. Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
was asked for advice on the design of a lightning conductor. When King George III heard what his political opponent had to say, he chose an alternative design. Magazine number 5 is now the Purfleet Garrison Heritage and Military Centre.
In March, 1916, anti-aircraft gunners based at Purfleet shot down the German Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
LZ15 - a first. As a result the gunners received a prize from the Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
.
From 1921 to 1936, Purfleet formed an urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
including the parishes of Aveley
Aveley
Aveley is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England and one of the traditional parishes in Thurrock. It is a suburban development located 16.3 miles east of Charing Cross in London and within the eastern bounds of the M25 motorway.-Location:Aveley is roughly bounded to the north...
, West Thurrock
West Thurrock
West Thurrock is a traditional Church of England parish and town in Thurrock, Essex, England, located 17.5 miles east south-east of Charing Cross, London.-Location:...
and South Ockendon
South Ockendon
South Ockendon is settlement and Church of England parish in the Thurrock borough and unitary district in Essex in the East of England, United Kingdom.-History:...
. It covered an area of 8900 acres (36 km²) and in 1931 had a population of 8,511. The parishes and urban district were abolished in 1936 and their former area was used to form 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:...
.
According to Bram Stoker's book, Count Dracula had an estate here. (See Chapter 2 of 1897 Stoker's Dracula)
Industry
Purfleet has been the site of a UnileverUnilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
(formerly Van den Berghs & Jurgens) works producing Stork
Stork (margarine)
Stork is a brand of margarine spread, owned by Unilever.Introduced into the United Kingdom and Ireland from 1920, housewives were initially suspicious of the health affects and cooking ability of margarine...
, Flora
Flora (margarine)
Flora is a brand of margarine, sold in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. It is produced by Unilever and sold in other parts of the world under the brand name of Becel...
, Bertolli
Bertolli
Bertolli is an international brand of Italian and Mediterranean food. The company was founded in 1865, in Lucca, Tuscany, by Francesco Bertolli, and was then bought by Unilever....
, and ICBINB!
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! is a butter substitute produced by Becel/Flora/Promise, which is a subsidiary of Unilever. It was introduced to the United States in 1986 and later to the United Kingdom and Canada in 1991. The product was put on the market in Germany in 2011. Due to the length of...
margarine
Margarine
Margarine , as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes, typically composed of vegetable oils. In many parts of the world, the market share of margarine and spreads has overtaken that of butter...
since 1917, reputed to be the largest in the world. It also has an Esso
Esso
Esso is an international trade name for ExxonMobil and its related companies. Pronounced , it is derived from the initials of the pre-1911 Standard Oil, and as such became the focus of much litigation and regulatory restriction in the United States. In 1972, it was largely replaced in the U.S. by...
lubricants plant and a ro-ro ferry terminal.
Transport
Nearest railway stations:- Purfleet railway stationPurfleet railway stationPurfleet is a railway station located in Purfleet, Thurrock, Essex in the East of England. It is situated just north of London Road, and a level crossing is provided for traffic. The station was opened in 1854 as part of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and is located down the line from...
There are good transport links to towns such as 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 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...
, as well as Lakeside Shopping Centre
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...
.
{| class="wikitable"
|Route Number
|Route
|Operation
|Operator
|-
|11
|Purfleet Station
Purfleet railway station
Purfleet is a railway station located in Purfleet, Thurrock, Essex in the East of England. It is situated just north of London Road, and a level crossing is provided for traffic. The station was opened in 1854 as part of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and is located down the line from...
to Chadwell Defoe Parade
via South Ockendon
South Ockendon
South Ockendon is settlement and Church of England parish in the Thurrock borough and unitary district in Essex in the East of England, United Kingdom.-History:...
|Mon-Sat (2 hourly)
|Imperial Buses
Imperial Buses
Imperial Buses is a small bus company located in Romford, Essex who operate public transport services and private hire in Essex, Greater London and Thurrock.-Routes:...
|-
|44
|Lakeside Shopping Centre
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...
to Grays Bus Station
Grays
Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes...
via Purfleet and West Thurrock
West Thurrock
West Thurrock is a traditional Church of England parish and town in Thurrock, Essex, England, located 17.5 miles east south-east of Charing Cross, London.-Location:...
|Mon-Sat (every 30/60 mins)
Sunday (hourly)
|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 ....
,
Arriva Southern Counties
Arriva Southern Counties
Arriva Southern Counties is a bus operator in London, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent and Essex in England. It is a regional division of Arriva.- History :...
One journey on 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 ....
route 22 (Aveley to Grays via 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...
) operates through Purfleet in the late evening.
Railway services from Purfleet Station
Purfleet railway station
Purfleet is a railway station located in Purfleet, Thurrock, Essex in the East of England. It is situated just north of London Road, and a level crossing is provided for traffic. The station was opened in 1854 as part of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and is located down the line from...
offer frequent services to London Fenchurch Street, Barking
Barking
Barking is a suburban town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, England. A retail and commercial centre situated in the west of the borough, it lies east of Charing Cross. Barking was in the historic county of Essex until it was absorbed by Greater London. The area is...
, 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...
, Tilbury
Tilbury
Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry...
and Southend. The services are operated by 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...
.