Underpass
Tilbury - Grays - Purfleet
This is a series of images which attempts to document the human impact of the landscape in this area: titled 'boundary'.
The Tilbury (pop ~16,000) - Grays (pop ~36,000) - Purfleet (pop~9,000) area has traditionally been an important zone for the servicing and protection of the city of London. Tilbury has been, and still is, home to the docks (since 1882) which collect and disseminate imports and exports to this economically important area of the UK. Although there have been changes to its use over the centuries, it is still noted for the storage of grain and paper as well as cars. It was also a regular starting point for luxury international cruises. Grays has traditionally been home to large boats too, including stories of providing moorings to boats of convicts who had been sent there to learn new trades such as carpentry. With these skills, they could go on to make an 'honourable living'. Purfleet, although smallest in terms of population, possibly had the biggest 'clout'; it was home to a gunpowder storage facility and nearby garrison to protect it. This whole stretch of river was also fortified to help protect Britain from invasion.
With the changes in defensive technology and the way in which products/goods are transported, the once-bustling stretch of river here is far quieter today, yet the history of the place is evident everywhere you look. Although these images don't claim to be jaw dropping or the most eye-catching of places, I find their very existence fascinating. It is another example of a space being industrialised to 'service' London and the South East. Every shop front has a store cupboard, right?!
These photos aim to document what it is to visit the Thames River Path today and hopefully, these words help to provide some of context behind what you see.
See the boundary series for yourself.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Email me
Underpass
Tilbury - Grays - Purfleet
This is a series of images which attempts to document the human impact of the landscape in this area: titled 'boundary'.
The Tilbury (pop ~16,000) - Grays (pop ~36,000) - Purfleet (pop~9,000) area has traditionally been an important zone for the servicing and protection of the city of London. Tilbury has been, and still is, home to the docks (since 1882) which collect and disseminate imports and exports to this economically important area of the UK. Although there have been changes to its use over the centuries, it is still noted for the storage of grain and paper as well as cars. It was also a regular starting point for luxury international cruises. Grays has traditionally been home to large boats too, including stories of providing moorings to boats of convicts who had been sent there to learn new trades such as carpentry. With these skills, they could go on to make an 'honourable living'. Purfleet, although smallest in terms of population, possibly had the biggest 'clout'; it was home to a gunpowder storage facility and nearby garrison to protect it. This whole stretch of river was also fortified to help protect Britain from invasion.
With the changes in defensive technology and the way in which products/goods are transported, the once-bustling stretch of river here is far quieter today, yet the history of the place is evident everywhere you look. Although these images don't claim to be jaw dropping or the most eye-catching of places, I find their very existence fascinating. It is another example of a space being industrialised to 'service' London and the South East. Every shop front has a store cupboard, right?!
These photos aim to document what it is to visit the Thames River Path today and hopefully, these words help to provide some of context behind what you see.
See the boundary series for yourself.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Email me