Some history on Grays in the county of Essex

Essex | Grays

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© Crown Copyright. Reproduced with kind permission of the National Library of Scotland under the Creative Commons Attribution licence.

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The oldest parts of the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul date from around 1100. The church was rebuilt and enlarged on two occasions in the 19th century during which the nave was extended and the north aisle added.

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This photograph of the Free Library at Grays was taken around a decade after the building had opened on a plot of land on Orsett Road donated by the brewer Charles Seabrooke, along with his business partner H. Astley. The library was formally opened by the Countess of Warwick, "Daisy" Greville. Although born in London, her ancestral home was in Essex. Opened to the public in November 1903, the building replaced a room in the Bank Buildings on the High Street. That may be the head librarian stood inside the entrance porch. Around the time of this photograph that post was held by Francis W. Saxton. Born in Plaistow, he had previously worked as a clerk for the railway company. The Grays & Tilbury Gazette and Southend Telegraph reported that the opening ceremony "took place amid scenes of dignified rejoicing which befitted the culmination of so important a scheme of municipal enterprise." Like many libraries of the period, it was mostly funded by the Andrew Carnegie, who donated £3,000 towards the project. The library was designed by the locally-based architect and artist Christopher Mitchell Shiner who produced a Renaissance-styled structure of locally-sourced red bricks with Portland stone dressings, topped with a roof of Westmoreland green slate. It was reported, and can be seen in this photograph that "the building was ornamented with carving, the gables bearing an allegorical representation of the arms of Grays, Thor"s belt, Thor"s hammer, and Thor"s oak, surrounding a view of the river, the Parish Church, and the Training Ship Exmouth." The clock tower was provided by the school children of the town. The building was damaged in the Second World War when a V-1 rocket landed in a pit to the rear of the building. This enemy action destroyed around 2,000 books held in the library. In later years the building was deemed too small for the town in which the population had increased significantly. Subsequently, a new library building was opened in January 1972.

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The old High Street at Grays has lost its character and looks like, well, many other places filled with homogenous boxes occupied by large brands. However, it was once an animated street full of vibrancy and idiosyncratic buildings, none more so than that of the Empire Theatre which can be seen to the right of this image. With seating for 800 patrons, this was the first cinema to be opened in Grays on December 22nd, 1910. The operators of the cinema were Frederick's Electric Theatres Ltd., a firm that opened further cinemas in the locality. A poster on the building shows that a forthcoming attraction was "The Magic Flame," a 1927 silent film directed by Henry King and starring Ronald Colman and Vilma Bánky, a woman dubbed "The Hungarian Rhapsody." Attendances at the Empire slumped in the run-up to the Second World War. An effort was made to convert the building into a live theatre but this venture failed. The premises were subsequently requisitioned by the Ministry of Food as a store for the remainder of the war. The building later served in a number of different leisure and retail roles until it was demolished in the 1960s.

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"James Theobald, M.P. for the Romford Division of Essex, has met his death in a shocking manner. He died at 6'clock on Saturday morning from injuries received through falling between the platform of Romford railway station and a moving train. The hon. gentleman had intended to proceed to London on Friday afternoon by the 2.16 train, but reached the platform just as the train was starting. In attempting to enter a first-class carriage he missed his footing, and fell on the footboard. Several people who were standing on the platform raised the alarm, and the rear guard at once applied the brake to attract the attention of the driver. The train, however, proceeded about 30 or 40 yards before it was brought to a standstill, and Mr. Theobald was severely crushed between the footboard and the platform. He was extricated by Charles Woodcock, the station-master, and carried to the station-master's office. Drs. Ryan, Mackenzie, and Wright were speedily in attendance, and a stretcher being procured from the police-station, Mr. Theobald was conveyed to the Golden Lion Hotel. It was there found that the unfortunate gentleman had sustained very serious injuries, several ribs being broken, while he also received a severe scalp wound and severe flesh injuries in the lower part of his back. Mrs. Theobald arrived, and later in the evening Dr. Jacobs, of Guy's Hospital, attended on the patient. No hope were entertained from the first. Mrs. Theobald having expressed a desire that the body should be removed to her residence, Bedfords, Havering, near Romford, without delay, an inquest was formally opened at the Romford Court House on Saturday evening by Mr. H. S. Haynes, the district coroner. After some formal evidence the inquiry was adjourned. Mr. H. S. Haynes concluded the inquest on Monday evening. Mr. Frederick W. Smith, solicitor, of Romford, and Miss Ellen Trott, who witnessed the accident, deposed that the deceased hurried from the barrier, and, just as he reached a carriage, the train moved off. With his right hand, which was encumbered by his umbrella, he caught hold of the rail of a carriage and raised his feet on the footboard, but his feet slipped off and he fell between the footboard and the platform, and was carried along for some yards before the train was stopped. Charles Woodcock, station-master at Romford, said that he extricated the deceased, whose head was wedged between the lower footboard and the brickwork of the platform. The deceased became black in the face, and appeared as if he was fainting when he was raised to the platform, but, on being taken to the station-master's private office and given brandy, he recovered consciousness. Questioned by a juryman, witness said that some of the platforms on the line were lower than those at Romford. Charles Claxton, a guard, who was in charge of the rear-van of the train, deposed that he waved his hand to the deceased, and shouted, "Too late." Witness did not think that the deceased would attempt to enter the train, but immediately afterwards he saw him hanging on to a carriage. Witness at once rushed back to the van, and applied the brake, but the train proceeded several yards before if was brought to a standstill. Dr. Mackenzie stated that death resulted from shock and collapse, due to a severe scalp wound, several broken ribs, a perforated lung, and a large lacerated wound on the back of the right thigh and buttock. The deceased retained consciousness up to his death, but he did not give any explanation of the accident, although he admitted that he was to blame. The jury found that death was accidental, but they expressed an opinion, which was endorsed by the coroner, that the platforms at the Romford Station ought to be raised. Mr. Nettleship, who watched the inquiry on behalf of the Great Eastern Railway, said he would communicate the jury's recommendation to the directors."
"Shocking Death Of An M.P."
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald : March 17th 1894 Page 3

"At Chelmsford on Friday, William E. Fountain, innkeeper, Stock, was charged with selling liquor to drunken persons on March 3rd. Mr. F. P. Sutthery, solicitor, was for the prosecution; Mr. W. J. Grubbe, barrister, was for the defence, instructed Mr. H. J. Jefferies. Mr. Sutthery said that on the day in question, Sunday, three men, named Mansfield, Miller, and Harris, left Grays somewhere about two p.m., and drove to Stock. On their way there they called at five different public-houses, and had in all 15 pints of beer, which was shared equally among the three. When they arrived at the defendant's house, the King's Head, they had more drink, and, after having tea, they remained until 20 minutes past eight. When they went home Mansfield was so drunk that he had to be lifted into the cart, and on reaching Grays he was found dead. The policeman would say that at this time the others were decidedly the worse for drink. The men had no drink from the time they left Stock, and in that case the defendant must have served the men while they were in a drunken condition. Lionel Harris, foreman stevedore, Grays, stated that he and Miller took Mansfield up at the Theobald Arms, Grays, where they shared with him a "pot of mild and bitter." They next called at the Bricklayers' Arms and the Half-Moon, Grays Thurrock, where they each had "half o' mild and bitter." At the Dog and Partridge, Orsett, and the Fortune of War, Laindon, they had "two pots between three." They stopped no more until they reached the King's Head, Stock, where they had another pot among them. After the witness and Miller had three or four "pony bitters," Mansfield drinking gin. He saw Mansfield have about "two two's of gin." They were jolly, but not drunk. They had a "good feed," Mansfield eating the most. On their way home they got down from the cart, and Mansfield fell on to the road, otherwise he appeared all right. They called at no public-houses after leaving the King's Head. Mr. Grubbe said he hoped the Bench would not allow themselves to be prejudiced in hearing the case by the fact that one of the poor men died that night. The tea the men had, proceeded counsel, was not topers' meal, but a good meal of ham, bread and butter, cheese, celery, and tea to drink, which was totally inconsistent with the allegations that they were in liquor. As regards Mansfield, he trimmed the lamp, and was the first to get into the cart on leaving Stock. They left there at a good pace, which, if kept up, would have landed them in Grays about half-past ten o'clock, but they did not arrive there until about half-past 12. Where were the men during that time? The defendant declared that the men were sober when they left his premises. Other evidence was given. After a retirement, the Bench decided to convict, and imposed a fine of £5. with £3 3s. 6d. costs, in default 21 days' hard labour, at the same time endorsing the licence."
"The Fatal Journey Between Stock And Grays"
Chelmsford Chronicle : April 19th 1901 Page 2

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"At Grays Petty Session on Friday, before A. Sturgeon [chairman], S. W. Squier, and H. E. Brooks, Esqrs., George Rayner, aged 13 years, and William Sharpe, 12 years, were charged with indecently assaulting and ill-treating Dora Sadler, of Prospect Place, Grays, on March 4th, in Grays Park. Dora Sadler, a bright girl of 13 years, attending Bridge Road School, said on Sunday, March 4th, she went into the lavatory at the Park, Grays, in company with Hattie Farman, her sister, and another girl. She closed and bolted the door, as she saw some boys coming towards the place. The boys could not get in so Sharpe got over the top of the door and unlocked the door. Witness and the other girls tried to get away and ran out. When outside the door Rayner interfered with her [witness's] clothing. She screamed and Farman ran to call the keeper. The other girls ran away and the boys got round witness and prevented her running off. At length she away; in the meantime Sharpe had been interfering with the other girls. Witness saw the keeper, but before he could get to the boys they had run away. Farman, aged 13 years, said on Sunday afternoon she was with Dora Sadler in the Park and went into the lavatory with her. Some boys came up, put a stick under the door and tried to get in. Then Sharpe - she thought it was - climbed over the door, then went beck for his cap, and Dora Sadler opened the door. Witness went out and some boys tried to pull her hair. Witness then went for the keeper, leaving Dora Sadler in the place. When the man came the boys had gone, and Dora Sadler was sitting on a seat crying. She told witness some boys had been pinching her. Fred Thompson, ten years of age, said on Sunday afternoon he was in the Park with some other boys. There were some girls about, among whom were Dora Sadler and Hattie Farman, He saw Sharpe get into the lavatory, over the top of the door, and the girls were inside, When Dora Sadler left the inner place he [witness] saw Rayner get the girl down and interfere with her. Rayner pleaded guilty and Sharpe not guilty. Mr. Sadler said he did not wish to see the boys' parents punished, He had brought the case forward, on behalf of the public, for the protection of children in the Park. The Chairman : We quite agree with you. It is necessary that this sort of thing should he stopped. [To the boys] You will receive six strokes of the birch rod, and we hope you will never forget it as long as you live."
"Boys Birched For Assaulting Girls At Grays Park"
Grays & Tilbury Gazette, and Southend Telegraph
March 10th 1900 Page 3

"At Essex Quarter Session on Wednesday, George Jenner, 19, labourer, was indicted for having indecently assaulted and ill-treated Martha Keziah Cottis, at Grays, on July 24th. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr. Fordham [instructed by Mr. F. Mullis] prosecuted. He stated that on the day in question complainant and two other little girls were playing near a sewage tank. They took off their shoes and stockings and played about in the vicinity. Prisoner came up, and while complainant was putting her shoes and stockings on again he followed her, committed the assault complained of, acted in an offensive manner, and treated her very roughly. Evidence bearing out counsel's statement was given by complainant and other witnesses. Prisoner, on oath, admitted that he had interfered with complainant. The jury found prisoner guilty. The Chairman [Mr. E. North Buxton] said the Bench were determined to stop that sort of thing and the case was a bad one. Prisoner would be sentenced to six months' hard labour."
"Indecent Assault At Grays"
Grays & Tilbury Gazette, and Southend Telegraph
August 11th 1906 Page 3