Stifford

---

title: "Stifford" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["former-civil-parishes-in-essex", "thurrock"] description: "Human settlement in Essex, England" topic_path: "general/former-civil-parishes-in-essex" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stifford" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Human settlement in Essex, England ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]

Field	Value
country	England
official_name	Stifford
coordinates
unitary_england	Thurrock
lieutenancy_england	Essex
region	East of England
constituency_westminster	Thurrock
post_town	GRAYS
postcode_district	RM16, RM17, RM20
postcode_area	RM
dial_code	01375, 01708
os_grid_reference	TQ599778
static_image_name	Stifford church.JPG
static_image_caption	Stifford parish church
::

|country = England |official_name = Stifford |coordinates = |unitary_england = Thurrock |lieutenancy_england = Essex |region = East of England |constituency_westminster = Thurrock |post_town = GRAYS |postcode_district = RM16, RM17, RM20 |postcode_area = RM |dial_code = 01375, 01708 |os_grid_reference = TQ599778 |static_image_name = Stifford church.JPG |static_image_caption = Stifford parish church Stifford is an area in the town of Grays in the borough of Thurrock in Essex, England. Stifford was historically a parish; the parish was abolished for civil purposes in 1936 when Stifford became part of Thurrock. Stifford is in two main parts: the original village, now known as North Stifford, lies to the north of the modern A13 dual carriageway. South Stifford is a largely residential area south of the A13 and to the west of Grays town centre. Stifford also gives its name to the Stifford Clays housing estate to the north of Grays.

Toponymy

The place name Stifford is first recorded in Domesday as Stiforda and means "path ford". The ford was across the Mardyke which flows through North Stifford before joining the Thames at Purfleet.

History

Stifford was an ancient parish in the Hundred of Chafford in Essex. When elected parish and district councils were established under the Local Government Act 1894, Stifford was included in the Orsett Rural District. The rural district and the civil parish of Stifford were abolished in 1936, becoming part of Thurrock Urban District. At the 1931 census (the last before the abolition of the civil parish), Stifford had a population of 2,188.

North Stifford

The original parish church (St Mary the Virgin) is located within North Stifford. The church is originally 12th century with later 13th, 14th and 19th century alterations and extensions, and is a Grade I listed building. The church contains several interesting medieval monumental brasses. William Palin who was rector between 1834 and 1882 wrote the earliest local histories devoted solely to the Thurrock area - Stifford and its Neighbourhood (1871) and More about Stifford and its Neighbourhood (1872). Palin was followed in 1980 by The Stifford Saga by Doreen Dean and Pamela Studd and in 2012 The Idyll in the Middyl by Cliff and Jan Cowin. The North Stifford Village sign was unveiled on 1 July 2011The Idyll in the Middyl by Cliff and Jan Cowin - publishers web site (2012)

South Stifford

South Stifford is a small residential area in the town of Grays which separates the town centre from West Thurrock and Lakeside Shopping Centre. It serves as a residential hub for the people who work at the local factories and surrounding retail areas, however it has recently been overshadowed by the huge housing estate of Chafford Hundred.

Education

South Stifford has one primary school, Stifford Primary School.

References

References

1. "Stifford".
2. (2006). "North Stifford Village".
3. PH Reaney, ''The Place-Names of Essex'', (CUP, 1969)
4. "Stifford Parish". GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth.
5. "Population statistics Stifford AP/CP through time". [[A Vision of Britain through Time]].
6. [http://www.northstiffordvillage.co.uk Village web site]
7. "CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, Non Civil Parish - 1111611 {{!}} Historic England".
8. Christopher Harrold, ''Exploring Thurrock'' (Thurock Local History Society, 2008)
9. "Detailed information about each planning area: primary schools".

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