THURROCK NUB News is delighted that Thurrock Historical Society chairman Sue Yates is a regular contributor with her lookbacks at the borough's past. In her latest, Sue takes us on a timely tour of some of the borough's pubs. Let's look forward to visiting them again in reality soon!

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ON New Year's Eve when we all welcomed in 2020 who among us knew that spring would see events not seen in this country since the Great Plague of 1665?

No one is surprised that the NHS struggles to cope throughout the winter months but nobody foresaw the current events. The public at large in lockdown, millions working from home.

Restaurants, pubs, clubs and sporting venues all closed. This made me think of the large number of historic pubs we have in Thurrock. So let's go on a Thurrock pub crawl from our armchairs.

For many people the first one that comes to mind is The Royal Oak at South Ockendon which sits at the back of the traditional English village green just to the left of the Norman round towered church of St Nicholas. One of only six such churches in Essex.

The Oak is a Grade II listed building and was originally a house built in the 15th or 16th century.

It is timber-framed and plastered, with a red plain tile roof and two storeys with gabled crosswings at each end. In a former life it had been jettied. In 1769 it was a farmhouse called Eldertons after a previous occupier during the reign of Charles II (1660-1685) when the village had pubs the King's Head, Catherine Wheel, Crooked Billet and Red Lion. With its low ceilings and old oak beams this former beer house just breathes history.

Next we could go to The Old White Horse, North Ockendon which was on the route the pilgrims took on their way from Brentwood to Canterbury but perhaps The Royal Hotel, Purfleet, now Purfleet on Thames, would be better.

Formerly the Bricklayers Arms which came from its connection with the Bricklayers Company of London. It is said that it was while staying at The Royal Hotel that Bram Stoker got his idea for his novel Dracula.

Stoker was the personal assistant of the famous actor Sir Henry Irving and was manager and owner of the Lyceum Theatre London.

The old house which stood opposite, known as Purfleet House was owned by Samuel Whitbread, and was said to be the inspiration for Carfax House in Dracula. A Thurrock Heritage Green Plaque hangs on the wall in London Road where Purfleet House formerly stood on the site of St Stephen's Church.

The Royal Hotel is Grade II listed. It is an early 19th century house in rendered brick with grey slate roof. Three storeys. It has a five window range of 19th century double hung vertical sliding sashes. Plain parapet, central 3 bays raised up, with horizontal capping.

It has a two storey balcony, part infilled, with slender stucco piers to ground floor, cast iron supporting posts to first floor. Tented lead roof with valance. Extensive modern extension /on west and north sides.

Gunpowder magazines

The Royal Hotel overlooks the river and has interesting views. It is also very close to the old gunpowder magazines and garrison at Purfleet. At one time you could eat a meal on the balcony and watch the shipping on the river.

We move further down the river now to The Wharf at Grays. This is also Grade II listed and is an 18th century house in brick and plaster, with red plain tile roof. Two storeys, attics and cellars.

Originally rectangular in plan with end chimney stacks, there is a timber-framed and weather boarded range at the rear and single storey range of outbuildings on the west side. Three window range double hung vertical sliding sashes with glazing bars. Two flat roofed dormers.

Corrugated iron canopy extends across front. This pub takes its name from the fact it served the men who worked on the cement dispatching wharves nearby humping hundredweight sacks of cement on aching backs to the wharf.

I am sure they worked up quite a thirst doing that work. I remember going here with my parents as a child and collecting large chunks of chalk off the beach.

Moving on if you like real ale you should visit the Theobalds Arms, Grays which still retains its coach entrance and takes its name from the family who had a brewery there.

Let's carry on along the River Thames and visit The World's End at West Tilbury. This is a Grade II listed building.

It is late 17th century/early 18th century altered in the 19th century and in the late 20th century. It is timber framed and weatherboarded with a grey slate roof. It has two storeys and three window range double hung vertical sliding sashes with glazing bars.

Extensions on north side, and late 19th century lean-to on south front and is mentioned by Samuel Pepys in his diary. Known earlier as The Ferry House because the ferry was move to here. Later known as The Lamb.

In 1778 under landlord William Swords the name changed to Worlds End Inn this was before Tilbury Town was built. If you sit outside you can look over the moat to Tilbury Fort but sadly you cannot see the river because of the sea wall which is a result of the 1953 floods.

You can if you wish, walk off your lunch by having a stroll along the sea wall and watch the ships pass as they have done since Tilbury Dock opened in 1886 and many centuries before that.

There are many more historic pubs in the borough. Please send us your memories of them and we can produce another virtual pub crawl to enjoy during lockdown. Please email [email protected] or send you thoughts via our unique NUBIT button or our Facebook page