This neighbourhood area is in the Essex Borough of Thurrock. It is just North of the River Thames and is accessible through the London commuter belt. It includes areas such as Badgers Dene, Grays, Orsett and Little Thurrock. Thurrock is a unitary authority area and is within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone, meaning substantial changes are set to occur in this area. Unlike inner city London, this neighbourhood area is surrounded by some of South East England’s large open green spaces, with much of the Thurrock Borough coming under Green Belt land.

Orsett is a parish and village four miles north of Tilbury. One of its local Churches, St. Giles and All Saints, dates back to the 12th century. Little Thurrock derives its name from the Saxon name, meaning “the bottom of a ship”. Christianity has historically been highly influential in Little Thurrock, with a parish Church dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin in the area. Scholars have estimated that the Church building dates back to 1170.

The Borough contains ten sites of special scientific interest, with Hangman’s Wood and Denholes being one such site.

Mammoths once grazed in the Thurrock!

In 2020, it was announced that the local Orsett Hospital would be permanently closed within the coming 5 years and replaced by four integrated medical centres across the borough – though only one was near completion as of 2022. With regard to education, in early 2022 the green light was given for the development of another school, the new Orsett Heath Academy, on land around Thurrock Rugby Club in Grays. The new eight-form secondary school will provide places for 1,200 children from Year 7 to Year 11. The South West Community Trust, which is leading the development, hopes the new main school will be open for the 2023/24 intake.