SUSAN YATES, chair of Thurrock History Society, continues her occasional series of features for Thurrock Nub News by touching on some points of interest featuring Ockendon.

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When I first moved to Thurrock, school names revealed the local history.

Kenningtons Primary School was named after the Manor of Kenningtons and not Radulphus de Knevynton as many think.

In South Ockendon there was Barretts Primary School and opposite was Lennards Secondary School both taking their names from the Barrett-Lennard family Lords of the Manor of Belhus who lived in Belhus Mansion, Belhus Park from 1525 to 1923. 

The Barrett-Lennards also owned Somers Heath which gave its name to another local school. 

Dilkes was named after Dilkes Wood. I suppose the most well-known was Palmer's founded by William Palmer.  

Recently a group of school children visited Thurrock Local History Museum. They came from Benyon Primary School in South Ockendon. This school takes its name from a former Lord of the Manor of North Ockendon, Richard Benyon de Beauvoir.

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North Ockendon was once in Thurrock. 

One of the duties of the Lord of the Manor of North Ockendon was to maintain the bridge over the Mardyke known as Kennetts or Kynes in Fen Lane. The Manor of North Ockendon was sold to Richard Benyon de Beauvoir former Governor of Fort St. George, Madras. He was already Lord of the Manor of Newbury, Ilford and Gidea Hall, Romford. 

By 1840 the Manor of North Ockendon, consisted of 1,135 acres. In 1842 Richard built a school and a teacher's house and in 1895 built the Reading Room in Church Lane, North Ockendon. 

The school was rebuilt in 1902 by his successor, also named Richard Benyon and held 80 pupils. The school was damaged by bombs in late 1944 and by 1947 when the number of pupils attending was only 30 it was muted by the local council that it should be closed. 

It finally closed its doors in 1980 with only 16 pupils to be relocated to other schools.

When Richard Benyon de Beauvoir died in 1897 he was succeeded by James H. Fellowes his nephew who later changed his name to Benyon. He died in 1935. In 1937 Henry son of James was forced to sell North Ockendon in order to pay off death duties.  

Whilst on the subject of North Ockendon there is a very interesting memorial in the church yard to Geraldine Elizabeth Batt and her sister Margaret Sarah, the wife of Col. Simpson. 

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Underneath Geraldine's name are the words 'Our Lady' of London Thieves. She died on 9th January 1931 and was buried on 14th January 1931. She lived in West Kensington and was born on 18th April 1851 in Purdysburn, Ireland like her sister. I have often wondered why they are buried in North Ockendon. I have searched the internet to no avail but one day I will have to visit Havering Local Studies library.