THURROCK LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY (From Thurrock Gazette)

THURROCK LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

4:40pm Thursday 12th November 2009

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JOHN Matthews, speaking on the Anglo-Saxon landscape of Thurrock during the 5th and 6th centuries, began by describing the terrain from the tidal salt marshes alongside the Thames, the gravel terrace rising up and the chalk area above, where people lived and planted their cereal crops. The decline of the Roman Empire left Britain open to the invaders from the Continent although there is still some evidence, in Thurrock, of the Roman occupation. Dry Street, near Fobbing, is a Roman road and the layout of roads in Orsett indicates they were made up in Roman times. There is evidence of a high status building excavated at Mucking and pottery, coins and tiles have been found all over Thurrock.

Many place names in Thurrock are derived from Saxon words, such as Fobbing and Mucking, and some churches have Saxon remains, such as the long narrow windows in Fobbing church. By the 10th century Thurrock was divided up into estates. The Norman invasion in 1066 marked the end of the Saxon period although the landscape in the 18th century was broadly the same as the Anglo-Saxon, except for the reclaimed marshes. Now Thurrock is permanently changed by chalk and gravel excavations, industrial sites, houses and roads.

The next meeting is on Friday, November 20, at the Adult Community College, Richmond Road, Grays, at 8pm.

The subject is Living and Working at Bata by Joan James.

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