IN the latest of her occasional columns for Nun News, Susan Yates who is the chair of Thurrock Historial Society, looks at the history of one of the borough's listed buildings and the people entwined in its history.

Their first child Samuel was baptised at the same Stepney church on 9 July 1704. Sarah died a few years later and Samuel met and married Jane Pinson on 9 February 1713 at St Mary Whitechapel.

It is not known exactly how many children Samuel had but his son with Jane, Henry was baptised on 26 March 1718 at St Dunstan's Stepney. They had another son a second Samuel and a daughter at least.

Samuel, originally in the navy, was a mariner by trade and commanded of a number of ships.

He made his fortune in the slave trade which in his time was viewed differently and as an underwriter of ships and their cargos. He was an expert in his field.

Samuel died, aged 68 years, on 28 February 1745 and as a regular church goer was buried in Orsett churchyard in a tomb which now holds many members of the Bonham family.

The house passed to his eldest son Samuel who was an underwriter based in St Andrews Holborn.

He died in 1821 and his brother Henry inherited the house. Henry decided to move the family to Great Warley Place and leased Orsett House to a Mr Duncombe who used it as a very respectable boarding College.

He was headmaster from 1821 until about 1842 when he was succeeded by George Maconachie M.A. who remained in the position until the late 1860s when he was replaced by Mr George Samuel Cripps. He was the schools last headmaster.

In 1883 it was once more a private residence for Mr Lewin Charles Cholmley Ralston Norris-Elye JP In 1902 the house was leased from the Bonham family by William Thomas Reginald Houldsworth who lived there until the Hon. George Henry Edwards took up residence in 1908.

By 1922 the owner was Percy Jermyn but by 1926 it was in the hands of Mrs Nora Kathleen Lee who ran a Nursery Training School there. The resident in 1933 was a Mrs Bourne and in 1937 it was the home of Michael Donaldson-Hudson. The 1940s saw the house leased from the Orsett Estate by Col R. Neave.

During World War II the house was damaged on 5 November 1940 and 22 June 1943 by bomb blasts.

The house is Grade II* listed and described as early to mid18th century red brick with red plain tile roof of 3 storeys with half basement and coped parapets. Double range plan with east and west wings attached later. Central pedimented Tuscon Doric doorcase on a flight of stone steps.

Interestingly the gate and piers, which are Grade II listed, are on the north side of the house away from the road.

The garden wall gate piers and gate are early to mid18th century red brick Flemish bond with wrought iron gates decorative brick piers with stone copings and stone heraldic eagles.

The house is now converted into apartments.