Editing Thurrock (section)

===1953 Floods===
On 31 January 1953, the low-lying areas of Thurrock were inundated by the [[North Sea flood of 1953]]. The Van den Berghs and Jurgens margarine factory, which manufactured [[Stork margarine]], was forced to stop production for many months. Since the output of this factory constituted one third of the country's ration allocation, this led to a severe strain on the supply of margarine in the UK.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Great Tide|first=Hilda|last=Grieve|year=1959|publisher=Essex County Council|page=466}}</ref> Most schools in Thurrock were closed, either as a direct result of the flooding or in order to use them to help the relief effort. More than 1300 people in [[Tilbury]] and other low-lying areas were evacuated to schools on the higher ground.<ref name="1953 Floods">{{cite web|url=http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/safety/floods/content.php?page=1953_aftermath|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305154939/http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/safety/floods/content.php?page=1953_aftermath|url-status=dead|title=1953 Floods|archive-date=5 March 2010}}</ref> Chadwell St Mary Primary school was used as the main welfare centre for the homeless.<ref>Grieve, 1959, page 600</ref> By 15 February, most schools had returned to normal. The last to resume were the Landsdowne school in Tilbury and the newly opened Woodside Primary School – then called Tyrell Heath School.<ref>Grieve, 1959, page 616</ref> On Friday 13 February, the flooded areas were visited by the young [[Queen Elizabeth II]]<ref name="1953 Floods"/> Despite severe loss of life in nearby [[Canvey Island]], only one person in Thurrock died as a result of the floods.<ref>Grieve, 1959, page 568</ref>