The lost gardens of Thurrock were recalled in a presentation to the March meeting of Thurrock Local History Society.

It was given in a presentation by Twigs Way, a research consultant with the Essex Gardens Trust who has been working on a project with the Land of the Fanns landscape partnership scheme.

Ms Way told how an enthusiastic band of researchers, using photographs and historic material had looked at garden history and landscapes, noting the changing history of the area and looking at what remains.

They looked at sites with fresh eyes, seeing the wider context of landscape as a whole, visiting the Essex Record Office and other venues. More sites were discovered, focusing on finding the 18th and 19th century period, using maps. One of the sites visited was Belhus, where a Tudor garden was discovered.

The project unearthed '50 Fabulous Features; across the region that turned up items such as a paddling pool, rock gardens and her many slides showed such things as the stench pipe at Belhus Park.

The researchers listed all parks and gardens in the area looking at past maps etc. The group visited different sites and looked at factory estates, cemeteries, artificial beach and gardens, quarry sites, memorial gardens etc.

She told members: "So much is under threat of redevelopment and we need to know what is important in the area."

All the findings have been recorded and lodged with the planning department of Historic England. Seventeen sites are now documented and mapped and will benefit posterity through knowledge and awareness. The whole project consisted of more varied and thorough work than ever before. Thurrock researchers now feature in the Essex Garden Trust magazine.

Ms Way also spoke about sites that no longer exist but have an amazing background including Chadwell Park, Belmont Castle, The Dell, The Elms, Moore Place, the Globe Pit allotments, Duvals and The Echoes. These 15 new lost gardens show so many amazing sites in Thurrock, reflecting the landscape and history of this area. A new book is to be published through Historic England Parks and Gardens.

Norma Leach from the History Society said: "This was an amazing and enthusiastic journey showing how the past affects the present, Twigs Way and her volunteers giving us a wider picture of the area."

The society's next meeting is the AGM at 8pm on Friday, 22 April at St John's Church Hall, Victoria Avenue Grays. This will be followed by John Matthews and Phil Lobley, looking at the Society's comprehensive website. Visitors are welcome.