Tilbury

Tilbury is a port town located on the north bank of the Thames in the borough of Thurrock in Essex, England. It was established as a separate settlement near East and West Tilbury, as well as near Tilbury Fort, in the late 19th century. The area was mostly part of the parish of Chadwell St Mary before becoming its own town.

Tilbury is an important part of the Port of London and has a major deep-water port that helps the local economy. The town is about 24 miles (39 km) east of central London and is next to the town of Grays. It is the southernmost point in Essex. According to the 2021 census, the Tilbury built-up area had a population of 14,185 people. The Gravesend–Tilbury Ferry has been an important crossing point for many years.

Etymology

The name Tilbury comes from nearby places called East and West Tilbury. Long ago, these places were known as "Tilaburg" and later "Tilberia". The word "burgh" means a fortified place, and it may have belonged to someone named Tila or been in a low area. Today, the town is sometimes called Tilbury Town to make it clear it is different from East and West Tilbury.

History

Tilbury's story is tied to its place along the River Thames. Across the river, Gravesend has always been important for travel and shipping. A ferry has crossed between these two places for a very long time because the river is narrow there.

There are signs that people lived here long ago during Roman times. In the 12th century, people changed the river by building walls, which helped improve the land. In 1588, Queen Elizabeth I visited Tilbury to speak to her soldiers. The town grew when docks were built, and a railway station opened in 1854, first called Tilbury Fort and later renamed Tilbury Riverside railway station.

Tilbury Ferry

Main article: Gravesend–Tilbury Ferry

The Tilbury–Gravesend Ferry has been in use for many years. Old maps show jetties and houses used for raising sheep. The ferry helped carry animals and wool across the river.

Tilbury Fort

The shape of the river made Tilbury a good spot to protect London from enemies. The first fort was built in 1539 by Henry VIII. It was strengthened many times over the years and is now cared for by English Heritage.

Governance

Tilbury is governed by the Thurrock Council, which is based in Grays. This council manages all local government services for the area.

Historically, Tilbury grew from part of the parish of Chadwell St Mary. In the late 19th century, a new town began to develop around Tilbury Docks. Over time, Tilbury became its own urban district before becoming part of the larger Thurrock area. Today, Thurrock is a borough in the ceremonial county of Essex.

Geography

Tilbury is located on the north bank of the River Thames. The river narrows to about 800 yards wide at this spot. North of Tilbury are areas that used to be marshlands, and beyond that are higher lands with villages like Chadwell St Mary, West, and East Tilbury. Tilbury sits north of the London-Southend railway line and is east of London, the capital of England.

Important places in Tilbury include docks, a spot where cruise ships can stop, and the Tilbury Power Station. The town has two churches and a school for younger children called Tilbury Pioneer Academy. Nearby, The Gateway Academy serves older students, and USP College is located close by.

Transport and industry

Main article: Port of Tilbury

The Port of Tilbury is a busy place where many things like bulk goods, timber, cars, and container traffic are handled. It is one of the three biggest places in Britain for containers, along with Southampton and Felixstowe. It is the main place in the UK where paper, including newsprint, comes in. There used to be a place for passengers, but now it is used as a London Cruise Terminal and is not served by the railway anymore.

In the past, most people in Tilbury worked in the docks. When the way things were moved changed, many jobs were lost and have not been replaced. Because of this, Tilbury today has high unemployment, and many people feel that there are not many good jobs or education chances.

There used to be a ferry between Tilbury and Gravesend, but it stopped running in 2024.

Tilbury Town railway station is on the c2c (London, Tilbury and Southend line), and it goes to London Fenchurch Street and Southend. Tilbury Riverside railway station closed on 29 November 1992, but the railway still helps the nearby container area.

Local buses are run by Ensignbus.

National Cycle Route 13 from London to Norfolk goes through the town.

People and culture

The Tilbury Band, starting in 1919, was one of the best brass bands in the UK.

Some famous people linked to Tilbury include football players John Evans and Tom Scannell; artist Noel Betowski, born there in 1952; doctor Thomas Horrocks Openshaw who worked at Tilbury Hospital; and actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, featured in the movie Farming. In the 2014 BBC series The Honourable Woman, the main character Nessa Stein becomes Baroness of Tilbury. Tilbury Fort was also used as a filming spot for Sharpe's Regiment, starring Sean Bean.

Healthcare

Tilbury did not have a hospital until 1896. In 1894, a kind man named John Passmore Edwards agreed to pay for a new hospital called the Passmore Edwards District Cottage Hospital. Later, in 1969, Orsett Hospital began providing healthcare for the area.

Media

Tilbury has a community radio station called Gateway 97.8. The town’s local weekly newspaper is the Thurrock Gazette.

Sport and leisure

Tilbury has a football club called Tilbury F.C.. They play their games at a place called Chadfields. Before the football club used this spot, it was a place where dog racing happened. This dog racing was not part of the big official dog racing group and was called a "flapping track." The racing started in the 1930s and stopped in 1947.

Later, there was another place called Tilbury Stadium at the end of Dunlop Road. It hosted dog racing from 1964 to 1967.