The neighbourhood of South Ockendon falls comfortably within the local authority of Thurrock. It is a peaceful, suburban locale located in the county of Essex. It benefits from its luscious green fields, as well as from the contemporary activities that many urban localities boast of, such as its own cinema, library and a host of independent and multinational chain shops and restaurants. Ockendon station sits to the west of the residential neighbourhood and provides two trains per hour into central London. While this may not seem like a lot, the combination of a relatively simple commute and the large houses that the area boasts has made South Ockendon very popular with commuting families who wish to live away from the pollution of the inner city.

Thurrock’s historic roots date back to the Saxon era, during which it was known as ‘Turroc’. Grays, the administrative centre of this neighbourhood, was known as Grays Thurrock – after being purchased and named after British aristocrat Henry De Gray in 1195. In 1835 local Parishes that surround the area of modern-day Thurrock were amalgamated together to form The Orsett Union. The Orsett Union was a social justice project, following the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, which acted to provide provisions for the local poor residents of Thurrock. What is today known as Thurrock was formed in 1936 as the Thurrock Urban District.

Thurrock has a number of contrasting yet interesting theories as to the origins of its name. Some believe it rather, unfortunately, means ‘the bottom part of a boat where the bilge water lies’ while others think it’s named after a ‘dung heap’ in a field! Either way, it’s probably just better to refer to the place as Thurrock.

In recent years Thurrock has forcibly removed unauthorised encampments of traveller communities. This is an extremely contentious issue and has caused uproar both from locals and those in the communities.

While the area has connections to central London, they are far from perfect. Local trains have a tendency for delays and regular travel can get very expensive.

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.

There are plans to expand Lakeside shopping facilities and other areas in West Thurrock. In 2020, Thurrock Council approved plans to expand the Lakeside Shopping Centre. The proposal includes the development of a new multi-storey parking facility, a new public square, a new and larger bus station (replacing one that will be demolished), as well as more pedestrian and cycle paths. It is estimated the scheme could create roughly 2,900 permanent jobs once finished and provide between 30 and 40 new stores and restaurants. Around 1,500 temporary construction jobs would also be made during development. In 2021, the Lakeside scheme seemed to have transformed into something more ambitious, exploring its potential to be transformed into a town centre with green methods of transport, like cycling and walking.