
It was over a hundred
years ago that the idea of a Grays Beach was first
envisaged. In 1902 when the Grays Coronation Committee
were making arrangements in connection with the
coronation of Edward VII, Councillor A.W. Boatman
suggested £150 should go towards a permanent memorial on
the river front, possibly with the remainder of the money
coming from the rates, used to procure a portion of the
saltings for the purpose of public baths.
In July 1902 a picture entitled
Down by the River Wall by Christopher M. Shiner was
exhibited in Boatmans window. This showed land
between the sandstone syndicate jetty and The Shaftesbury,
with laid out gardens, bandstand etc. Previously, in
October 1898 Mr Boatman had written to Mr William
Williams of Swansea, landowner, re securing a portion of
the river front, but Mr Williams declined at that time.
Mr Boatman wrote again in 1902 after several landowners
had given land elsewhere as a Coronation gift. This time
Mr Williams agreed to provide a site on which to erect
baths and wash houses as a permanent memorial of Edward
VIIs Coronation, although the erection of baths and
wash houses was not a condition of the sale. Mr Boatman
was unable to get the whole portion of land asked for,
but he now had an offer from Mr Williams to give an acre
to the town and sell the remaining 3 acres required at £400
per acre, which the Council accepted. Mr Boatman said the
land would be worth £1000 an acre in the near future. An
extra 2p would be needed on the rates. The Chairman (Mr H.E.
Brooks) said there was no doubt the river frontage was
being snapped up.
The following October Mr
Williams solicitors wrote to the Council to confirm
that he was giving one acre free and would sell about 3½
acres at £400 per acre the land to be used as a
public recreation ground or park and no other purpose.
The councillors agreed the money would not be provided
from the rates, but to be borrowed and repayment made
over several years, say 21, amounting to ¼d rate. The
following month the Council agreed on four bonds each for
seven years to repay the loan. The land was measured and
it was discovered that there were 5½ acres in total. The
price would be £1880 for 4½ acres and it was agreed
that the whole plot would be acquired.
By January 1903 the contract for
the purchase of land adjoining the river wall was sealed
and a letter from Mr Williams solicitors read to
the effect that if at any time the Council wanted to use
a part of the land for their own purposes, Mr Williams
would, no doubt, agree. There was further correspondence
and meetings between Mr Williams solicitors and the
Council, resulting in a letter saying that steps would be
taken for the deed to be executed. It took a further year
before the Council agreed the terms set out by Mr
Williams solicitors. Legal documents were to be
prepared, £1880 being provided by four bonds.
The purchase was accomplished in
March 1904. Mr William Williams of Maesygwernen Hall,
Morriston, Wales died in April 1904. He was a large
property owner in Grays and an article in the Gazette
gave his history. A letter of condolence was sent to his
widow by the chairman of Grays UDC.
All did not go well with the land
purchase. In May 1904 the Councillors were surcharged £70
for interest and the first payment on the Bond. Mr
Williams executors were to be approached with the
possibility of setting up a terminable annuity. Mr
Williams solicitors asked for the deeds to be
returned but the Council refused. A letter dated 16 July
1904 from the Local Government Board, acknowledging the
application for sanction to borrow £1880 for the
purchase of land near the river wall for the purpose of
public walks or pleasure grounds, stated that before
deciding upon it a Local Government Board inquiry would
be held. This was done in August 1904. The Bond had been
agreed between Mr Williams and Thurrock Council for 7
years at 4%. When the council came to pay the interest
the Bond was declared illegal and invalid. The council
did not want the rates to be increased.
Several Grays residents opposed the
scheme, saying the general public had not been asked what
they wanted. Mr Golden supported the application as he
said the river front was fast disappearing. Repayment of
loan and interest per year over 21 years would be £120,
a rate of less than ¾d. Those against said extra money
would be needed to bring the land up to requirements
including infill of 6-10ft and keeping the water out.
After the Inquiry the Inspector proceeded to the river
wall to view the land. It was suggested that £10-£20,000
would be needed to lay out the land.
In September 1904 the Local
Government Board agreed to lend £1880, the period of
repayment to be over 58 years. Mr A.C. James, surveyor,
was instructed in the meantime to take the levels and
prepare a plan for the committee, maybe including an open
air swimming pool. Grays Trades and Labour Council asked
for the work to be given to local firms. After a motion
the Parks Committee were asked to consider the question
of a scheme. Mr Golden remarked upon the popularity of
Purfleet during the summer and believed that if they
could show the Railway Company they had a similar resort
in Grays they would probably issue cheap tickets to Grays
that would help the town. The committee for the lay-out
scheme met and the open air swimming bath at East Ham and
model yacht pond at Barking were to be inspected.
The beach
opens
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