Discover West Thurrock

Explore West Thurrock through several clearly defined themes: the architectural history of the Church of St Clement, the commemoration of the boys from the training ship Cornwall, an area rich in wildlife, a water park and the history of a former chalk quarry. These offer several starting points for your hotel search. Consider whether architecture and remembrance, nature and geological history, or a water-based activity will shape your stay.

Church of St Clement: architectural history and remembrance

The Church of St Clement has fabric dating from the 13th century, as well as alterations from the 14th and 15th centuries. Its three-storey west tower dates from the 15th century and has a battlemented parapet. This type of parapet has a notched upper edge; the term describes an architectural detail. The building phases and the shape of the tower offer different clues for placing the church in its historical and architectural context.

St Clement lies on the pilgrimage route to Canterbury and Rome. The churchyard contains the mass grave of the boys from the training ship Cornwall, who drowned in an accident off Purfleet in 1915. The pilgrimage route places the church within a religious journey; the grave commemorates a specific local tragedy. Thus, a pilgrimage tradition extending beyond the local area and a local memorial stand side by side here.

Wildlife and the chalk landscape

Oliver Road Lagoons, also known as West Thurrock Marsh, is a 40-hectare area rich in wildlife. Both names refer to the same place, not to two separate areas. You may therefore encounter the alternative name when searching for West Thurrock Marsh.

The former Tunnel Cement Works Quarry, also known as Motherwell Way Quarry, became one of the largest chalk quarries in Britain. Upper Cretaceous cliffs surround the former quarry. The quarry therefore offers a different way to explore the history of the landscape than the wildlife area: the focus here is on former chalk extraction and geology. These two themes show how nature and industrial history in West Thurrock can be understood in different ways.

Route information with a date reference

A route record from 2008 lists “West Thurrock Marshes and South Stifford” as a named section. If you use this name when planning, check current trail conditions on site.

Aqua Park Lakeside

Aqua Park Lakeside is located on Alexandra Lake at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Grays, RM20 2AB. It features more than 30 inflatable obstacles, including giant slides, Monkey Bars, Blast Bags and balance beams. It also has a jumping tower. This water attraction offers a different focus from the area’s architectural, landscape and industrial history. Check the latest information about Aqua Park Lakeside before booking.

Explore more destinations: South Ockendon, Linford, Tilbury, Grays, Aveley, Purfleet, Horndon On The Hill, Stanford-Le-Hope

For the broader travel overview: Thurrock.