Thurrock was a local government district and civil parish in south Essex, England from 1936 to 1974.
Background
The district was created as a consequence of the Local Government Act 1929, which compelled county councils to review county districts and make recommendations for changes to the Minister of Health for approval. The subject of amalgamation of riverside parishes was not new, with an unsuccessful proposal in 1911 to expand Grays Urban District to include Chadwell St Mary, Little Thurrock, West Thurrock and part of Stifford.[1] In March 1931, Essex County Council convened a conference of local authorities in the area to solicit their views. The council suggested the breaking up of Orsett Rural District and the enlargement of the existing urban districts of Purfleet (gaining North Ockendon) and Grays Thurrock (gaining Stifford and part of Little Thurrock). Tilbury urban district would be absorbed by a new Orsett urban district formed from the remainder of the rural district. The proposals met with objections from the local authorities. An inquiry was held in November 1932 and the Minister of Health suggested the creation of a new "Riverside" urban district covering the whole area. The county council submitted revised proposals along these lines on 4 October 1933, calling the new district "Orsett". A further local enquiry was held in November 1933 and the changes were approved in December, with the suggestion from the minister that new district should be called "Thurrock". Purfleet Urban District Council took legal action in an attempt to prevent the changes and revert to the earlier scheme, ultimately taking the case to the House of Lords without success.[2]
History
The parish and urban district was formed from the former area of the following civil parishes which had been abolished in 1936:[3]
The district was enlarged in 1938 by gaining part of the former Little Burstead parish from Billericay Urban District. The district was abolished in 1974. The part within Basildon New Town became part of Basildon District, while the remainder became the present-day Borough of Thurrock. It has since become a unitary authority with largely the same boundaries.
