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**South Benfleet**
	South Benfleet
	; Saint Mary's Parish Church
	; South Benfleet ; South Benfleet shown within Essex
OS grid reference	TQ782860
District	Castle Point
Shire county	Essex
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BENFLEET
Postcode district	SS7
Dialling code	01268
Police	Essex
Fire	Essex
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Castle Point
	List of places: UK • England • Essex

Coordinates: 51°32′44″N 0°34′07″E / 51.5455°N 0.5686°E / 51.5455; 0.5686

South Benfleet is a town in the Castle Point district of Essex, 30 miles east of London. The Benfleet post town includes South Benfleet, Thundersley and Hadleigh. It is located north of Canvey Island and is served by Benfleet railway station. It is home to the South Benfleet Primary School, which was used temporarily to house local residents during the widespread flooding of 1953.

[edit] History

[edit] Toponymy

The name of the town originates from the time of the Saxon settlers in the 5th Century, when the area was largely marshland. They named the area Beamfleote, meaning "tree stream", being the area where the creeks from the River Thames adjoined the wooded area to the north.

The current spelling was adopted at the time the railway service was brought to the area and a railway station built for the town. Throughout the intervening period various documented versions of the names has been 'Benfleota', 'Beamflet', 'Bemflet', 'Bienflet' and 'Bemfleet'. The last was used on John Norden's maps in the 17th Century.

[edit] Roman

In Roman times the reclaimed area which is now Canvey Island was joined to the interior of Britannia by the empire's ubiquitous road system. This provided access from Benfleet to Camulodunum (Colchester) and Londinium (London). The A130 road from Saddler's Farm roundabout to Canvey Island follows the route of the original Roman road. Its construction in 1971 brought to light a number of artefacts dating back to the early settlements in the area.

[edit] Saxon and Viking

In Saxon times the village became known as South Benfleet when a new settlement, which became known as Little Benfleet, developed to the north of the original settlement. The new settlement did not last, and its site, which has since become known as North Benfleet, is now largely rural.

The Battle of Benfleet took place between the Vikings and Saxons in 894. This was towards the end of the Saxon period, and the Thames and other waterways made the area vulnerable to Viking attacks. Benfleet was used as a Viking base. However the Vikings were defeated in the battle by the army of King Alfred under the command of his son Edward the Elder and his son-in-law Earl Aethelred of Mercia. Subsequently a church was built by the Saxons in thanksgiving for the victory over the Vikings. St Mary's church is the most recent church building occupying this site.

[edit] Modern

The railway was brought to the town in 1855. The new South Benfleet railway station connected the town with Southend-on-Sea to the east and London Fenchurch Street station.

In July 2002 Castle Point District Council named a 6-mile cycle way, from near Benfleet railway station to near Leigh-on-Sea railway station, the "de Neumann Way" after Captain Peter de Neumann, GM.

[edit] Geography

[edit] Local towns

[edit] Governance

Since the abolition of the Benfleet Urban District in the Local Government Act 1972, South Benfleet, along with Canvey Island, Hadleigh, and Thundersley has formed the parliamentary constituency and local government district and borough of Castle Point. As of 2008, the Member of Parliament representing Castle Point is the Independent politician Bob Spink. South Benfleet elects 1 seat to Essex County Council. As of 2009, the seat is held by Colin Riley of the Conservative Party.^[1] Within Castle Point Borough Council, South Benfleet is represented by nine councillors elected from the wards of Appleton, St. Mary, and Boyce.

[edit] Transport

Benfleet is served by the London, Tilbury and Southend railway line, currently run by c2c rail. By road the A13 and A12/A127/A130 connect the town to London.

[edit] Landmarks

War Monument, South Benfleet

The Church of England in Benfleet is served by the parish church of Saint Mary. The public houses located in the Monument and St Mary's area of the town include The Anchor, "The Hoy and Helmet" and the Half Crown. Further north is the Benfleet Tavern. There are also a range of restaurants in the South Benfleet conservation area.

Benfleet Water Tower, ~ TQ 790 867 Benfleet Water Tower is a brick built structure built in 1903, which is 30m high with a 22m mast sited on the roof. All radio equipment is housed within the tower. Being on a prominent hilltop, some 137m amsl, this is an exceptional radio transmission and reception site. Coverage includes the whole estuary, including the Isle of Grain, Medway Towns, Southend, Bradwell, Danbury etc. This site provides both Highband and Lowband CBS systems.

[edit] Sport

Benfleet is the home to Sceptre League Division 1 team Benfleet FC, who finished 5th in 2008/2009 season.

[edit] Images

Clock on Benfleet roundabout

One of the last true Bluebell woods in Essex (Shipwrights Drive)

[edit] See also

North Benfleet

[edit] References

^ Essex County Council Election Results. Essex County Council. Retrieved 2009-06-05.

Norman M. Chisman, D.P.A., Bygone Benfleet, Phillimore, 1991

[edit] External links

[0] Essex County Council Election Results. Essex County Council. Retrieved 2009-06-05.

[1]

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