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St Clement's, West Thurrock, Essex

I've been to St Clement's many times but have missed this unusual skull gravestone. The skull is looking upwards.

 

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St.Clement's Church, West Thurrock, near Grays in Essex, has quite the oddest location - at the heart of the Proctor and Gamble site, in the middle of an industrial estate. Located off Hedley Road, the redundant church was renovated by P&G in 1987 and the churchyard is now a nature reserve.

 

Now part of a set: www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/sets/72157602479448668/

 

If you are looking for it turn right off of Hedley Drive and follow the Proctor and Gamble signs. There is a footpath on the other side of the road to the riverside.

 

The aisle and side chapels are 14th century and the tower is 15th century. A guidebook tells me that St Clement's was unusual in once having a circular nave. Over the centuries of development the former chancel of the round church became the nave and a new chancel was added. Finally the circular nave was demolised and this tower was built.

 

This was one of the churches used in the Hugh Grant film 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'.

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Uploaded on September 26, 2009
Taken on September 25, 2009