History of South Shoebury (Shoeburyness)
Shoeburyness, the Garrison Clock Tower c1955
Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.
History of South Shoebury >> White's Directory 1848
White's Directory of Essex 1848
SHOEBURY (SOUTH) is a small village and parish, on Shoebury Ness, which juts to a point in the ocean at the mouth of the Thames, 6 miles South East of Rochford, and 44 miles East of London. It contains only 164 souls, and 967 acres of land; but was formerly much larger, and is said to have had a fortified city, which was washed away by the ocean, and is supposed to be buried in the Maplin Sands, along which there is a road at low water from Shoebury to Foulness Island. Shoebury, under the name of Scabivig, or Scobrih, is first mentioned in 894, when Alfred the Great being engaged with the Danish invaders in the west of England, two troops of those barbarians landed here, and built a fort or castle. It is observed, that not only large traces of Danish works yet remain, but many urns have been found near the village, showing that the Romans had some sort of a settlement here. Robert Bristow, Esq., owns most of the soil, and is the lord of the manor, whioh was given to Prittlewell priory, by Robert Fitz Suene. Part of the land formerly attached to the message called Dangers, was washed away by the sea many years ago.
The Church (St. Andrew,) is a small antique structure, with a flint tower, and spire. The wreathed arch over the passage into the chancel, is of curious workmanship. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £14.13s.4d., and in 1831 at £341, is in the_patronage of Robert Bristow, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Philip Wynne Yorke, M.A. Here is a Signal Station, and a Coast Guard, consisting of a lieutenant and seven men. The poor parishioners have an old building called Well House, with a garden, let for £6.18s., but the donor is unknown. An adjoining field, said to have been left for the poor, is now private property.