Grays library (also in the Complex) is a wonderful source of information, from the Victoria County History and all our Panoramas to church histories, schools, information on Tilbury Docks, railways and biographies (look in the index drawers). In Thurrock Gold a list of local books was published and most of these can be borrowed from the library. There are old Trade Directories, Essex Review 1892-1957 and Essex Countryside 1952-2001. The library also has the Thurrock Gazette on film, with cuttings books 1970s-1980s. Local companies are well represented via histories and in-house magazines, including Bata 1956-72, Van den Berghs 1949-82, Esso 1954-72, Shell 1955-72 and Thames Board Mills 1958-70. The map drawers too are well worth investigating.

For Family History the library has copies of the International Genealogical Index, local parish registers and censuses, minutes from the Orsett Board of Guardians and some parish and manorial records. There are also Indexes of Wills Held in Chelmsford and local telephone directories 1953-81.

Churches are probably the oldest buildings you can visit. Many have histories and postcards for sale and the churchyard and cemetery give names of old local families. Parish magazines are sometimes a mine of information,

Further afield, Essex Register Office at Chelmsford, Southend Library and various London depositories are a wonderland of material. The internet has bloomed and hundreds of websites are available. So get those feet or fingers walking!

For a list of parishes in the area covered by the Thurrock Local History Society - click here

For a map of the Thurrock area - click here

Thurrock Heritage Factsheets and Thurrock Parish Facts (produced by the museum) are available on-line - click here

For more information about the museum's facilities -click here or go to the museum's web site.

The Thameside Family History Group web site has information about Thurrock's churches and cemeteries - click here.