The following articles on the church brasses of Thurrock were published in the journals 'Panorama' 12, 13 & 14 between 1968 and 1971. The rubbings were taken in 1967 and the descriptions of where the brasses are sited stem from that date. In the interim, the brasses may have been re-sited and at least two others have come to light. The monumental brasses recorded here and in the Panorama articles, are further evidence of the wealth of historical interest which still remains for our examination.

The use of engraved brass plates as memorials appears to have been introduced from the Low Countries during the late thirteenth century as an improvement on the incised stone slabs previously used. Brasses consist of two distinct elements; the plate of metal or latten, which was a mixture of copper and zinc and the indent, the countersunk stone slab in which the engraved plate was set flush by means of metal rivets and pitch. As there were no roller mills to make the metal plate, a system of water powered hammers was used and this often led to the sheet of brass being rather uneven as can be seen on some effigies.

We are fortunate in Thurrock that many of our churches still possess monumental brasses, most of which are interesting examples of the engravers' craft. Among these, the churches of Aveley and Stifford contain brasses from early times to the latter heyday of such monuments. In these churches alone, we have some very interesting brasses and there are others of equal interest in many other churches in Thurrock which are well worth investigating.

The descriptions of two monumental brasses in Orsett Parish church and the pre 1700 brasses of Chadwell St. Mary and Horndon-on –the-Hill (omitted from TLHS survey in 1967) are included by the kind permission of Martin Stuchfield, Hon. Secretary of the Monumental Brass Society. A recent publication The Monumental Brasses of Essex by William Lack, H. Martin Stuchfield and Philip Whittemore (2003) published by the Monumental Brass Society, lists existing brasses, indents and lost brasses, with illustrations of all figure brass pre-dating 1700, selected indents and all later figure brasses.

Churches			People
Aveley, St Michael Chadwell-St-Mary Corringham, St Mary the Virgin Grays, St Peter and St Paul Horndon-on-the-Hill Orsett, St Giles and all Saints Orsett, additional brasses South Ockendon, St Nicholas Stifford, St Mary West Thurrock, St Clement			Anonymous (c. 1460): Corringham Anonymous priest (c. 1500): Stifford Anonymous civilian, possibly Thomas Hotoft (c. 1520): Orsett Anonymous civilian, 2 wives, 1 son and 6 daughters (c. 1520): Grays John Ardalle and Ann his wife (1504): Stifford Thomas Atlec [?Atlee] and his wife Margaret (1467): Corringham Nathaniel and Elizabeth, children of Edward Bacon and his wife Helen (1588): Aveley Margaret Barker, wife of Edward Barker of Chesswyke (1602): South Ockendon Charles Barrett (l584): Aveley Edward Barrette (1585): Aveley, Essex Children of [?] Isolda de Belhus (1520): Aveley Richard de Beltoun, rector (c. 1340): Corringham Sir Ingelram Bruyn (1400): South Ockendon Daniel Caldwail (? Caldwell) (1634): Horndon-on-the-Hill Robert Draper, person (1595): Corringham Alice Greyve (1453): Corringham Humphrey Heies amd his son Humphrey (1585): West Thurrock Thomas Hotofte (1495): Orsett, additional Robert King, pastor (1584): Orsett Radulphus de Knevynton (1370): Aveley Thomas Latham and Jane his wife (1485): Orsett Ann Lathum, daughter of Thomas Lathum of Stifford (1627): Stifford Elizabeth Lathum, wife of Thomas Lathum of Stifford (1630): Stifford William Lathum and Susan his wife, daughter of Symon Sampson of Carsey, Suffolk (1622): Stifford Cicilye Owen (1603): Chadwell-St-Mary Rudolph Perchehay (c. 1380): Stifford Katherine Redinge, daughter of Humphrey Heies (1591): West Thurrock Lady Elizabeth Saltonstall (1630): South Ockendon Gilbert Saltonstall (1585): South Ockendon

Thanks to Chris Phillips for permission to use the name index from his medieval genealogy site.