The latest in our occasional series of features reflecting on Thurrock's past by Susan Yates, chair of Thurrock Historical Society.

________________ SATURDAY, 16 May 1840 saw the first edition of the Catholic Newspaper The Tablet. One of its main features was an article about the Rev William Palin of North Stifford and a rather harrowing experience. William Palin visited London quite often and prior to the arrival of the railway in 1854 one either went by the Horndon coach or river steamer. Rev Palin regularly used one of the tilt boats called 'The Star'. On 9 May 1840 Rev Palin had been shopping in London and boarded the 5pm sailing of the 'Star' from London Bridge bound for Gravesend via Grays. It became clear shortly after boarding that The Star was racing another vessel, the newly constructed 'Sons of the Thames' which had departed at the same time.

Things got worse when at Blackwall a third vessel the 'Vesper 'joined the race. It later transpired that a massive prize of £210 was at stake.

Normally, when the steamer reached Grays, it would be met by smaller craft which would ferry the passengers ashore as there was no landing stage at that time. On this occasion, as they neared Gravesend, the Star was leading the race and the crew were not about to forfeit their lead for the benefit of the passengers disembarking at Grays.

The lighter came out to carry the disembarking passengers ashore but the steamer did not stop - in fact it did not even slow down. A crew member merely hooked the ferry and the first passengers clambered aboard. However, by the time it came to the turn of Rev Palin to clamber aboard the lighter it was filling up with water washed up from the engines.

The crew man realised this and released the hook just as Palin was alighting and he fell in to the cold dark murky waters of the Thames. According to Rev Palin the Star did not even slow down let alone stop and carried on leaving him in the water although one witness said they thought the Star did slow down for a second or two.

Fortunately the poor clergyman, though he did lose consciousness for a few moments, came to and was able to keep himself afloat long enough to be fished out of the river by a passing boat.

An observer of the event remarked: "If he had not been a good swimmer he must certainly have drowned." He added he had never witnessed such a total recklessness about human life before."

Looking back from the ship, as he disappeared beneath the surface of the Thames shocked passengers, remaining on board the Star held a meeting where they signed a petition to the management company demanding the dismissal of the captain.

On the Tuesday after the incident the Rev Palin had recovered sufficiently from his ordeal to meet the Lord Mayor of London to discuss the problem. The Lord Mayor was sympathetic and recommended an application to the clerk of the court, a Mr Clarke at the Central Criminal Court.

The steamship company strongly denied the allegations and ultimately the Rev Palin was advised by Mr Broderip of Thames Police that his best course of action was to seek redress through the Civil Courts as the steamship company had not broken any law.

Rev Palin succeeded in his action due to the strong support of his fellow passengers and The Star's owners settled the case in late July.

William Palin's efforts were not made to secure financial redress but to ensure the safety of future passengers.

It was about this time that a bill passed through Parliament regulating steam navigation on the river. As a result of Rev Palin's experience and efforts in 1841 permission was granted to construct a pier at Grays. Grays Pier went 400 feet out in to the river thus ending the practice of passengers being disembarked midstream and secured safe landing for those wishing to alight at Grays.

You can read more about Rev Palin via this link.