Grays 438901 225017903 2008-07-11T14:06:00Z Jimbo online 4091784 /* Notable people */ [[Corringham, Essex|Corringham]] isn't Grays {{dablink|For other uses, see [[Grays (disambiguation)]].}} {{Infobox UK place | |official_name= Grays |unitary_england= [[Thurrock]] |lieutenancy_england= [[Essex]] |region= East of England |country= England |latitude= 51.4724 |longitude= 0.3247 |population= 36,601([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]]) |constituency_westminster= [[Thurrock (UK Parliament constituency)|Thurrock]] |post_town= GRAYS |postcode_area= RM |postcode_district= RM17 |dial_code= 01375 |os_grid_reference= TQ615773 }} '''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]]. ==History== [[Image:Grays Thurrockmap 1946.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A map of the town from 1946]] The Grays and Chafford Hundred areas are set within three Victorian chalk pits; the largest two being the Lion Gorge, and the Warren Gorge. The area of the [[Chafford Hundred]] residential development is built on a Victorian landfill site. == Geography == Nearest places: * [[Aveley]] * [[Chadwell St Mary]] * [[Chafford Hundred]] * [[North Stifford]] * [[Orsett]] * [[Purfleet]] * [[South Ockendon]] * [[South Stifford]] * [[Tilbury]] * [[West Thurrock]] ==Landmarks== Local sites of interest include the ''Thameside Theatre'', the ''Thurrock History Museum'', [[Grays Beach]] and the now-disused [[State Cinema]] (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)|Godzilla]])''. 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 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. ==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. ==Education== Schools in Grays include; Gateway Academy, Grays Convent High School, William Edwards School & Sports College, Grays School Media Arts College, Deneholm Primary, Little Thurrock Primary, Quarry Hill Infant and Junior, St Thomas Of Canterbury Catholic Primary, Stifford Clays Infant and Junior, Stifford Primary, Thameside Infant and Junior School and Treetops School. The local sixth form college is [[Palmer's College]], whilst other colleges in Grays include Thurrock & Basildon College (Woodview Campus) and Thurrock Adult Community College. ==Sports== 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]]. == Notable people == * [[Alfred Russel Wallace]] * [[Joe Pasquale]] * [[Mick Jackson (film director)|Mick Jackson]] * [[Russell Brand]] * [[Stuart Barnes]] ==External links== *[http://www.pavitt4.fsnet.co.uk Bygone Grays Thurrock- Local history website] *[http://www.lakesidehammers.com Lakeside Hammers Speedway] *[http://www.thurrock-community.org.uk/historysoc Thurrock Local History Society] {{Essex}} [[Category:Thurrock]] [[Category:Towns in Essex]] [[de:Grays]] [[fr:Grays]] [[nl:Grays]] [[no:Grays]] [[ro:Grays]] [[vo:Grays]]