1817: Sailing Directions -
BARKING or TRIPCOCK and HALFWAY-REACHES bend round circularly and lie from Maggot-ness to Cross-ness E.S.E. ½ E.
and from Crossness to Gillingham Point nearly S.E. within the first direction is Barking-shelf:
its upper end lying off the creek's mouth; the thwart-mark for it is Barking-church and the Tower-house in one,
or the creek open. The thwart-mark for the lower end is, the Tower-house ou the corner,
just open of the Powder-house on the south side.
In order to go to the southward of the shelf, keep the barn on Deval's-house on with Maggot-ness,
until you get down to the Sluice; then haul over mid-channel, until you bring the south edge of Purfleet
on with Jenningtree-point: this mark will carry you clear of the shoal which extends from the Leather-bottle-point.
The mark to lead you through to the northward of Barking-shelf is the innermost, or southernmost tree
in Gallion's kept on with Maggot-ness. Be careful to give the point below Barking-creek a good berth.
On the upper end of the shelf are 5 or 6 feet, and on the lower end are only 2 or 3 feet.
The next is Dagenham-shoal, extending downward from the lower part of Gallions to Barking-creek;
the thwart-mark for this is, Dagenham-church on with the Uppersluice.
The mark to lead you clear of it is, Purfleet on with Jenningtree-point,
until Barking-church comes open of Dagenham-point.
In Gallions there is good anchorage off Tripcock-trees in 12 and 13 feet.
The best mark for anchoring in Halfway reach is, Jenningtree-point, on with Coldharbour-point,
towards the north side, or Barking-church a sail's breadth open of Dagenham-point, in 17 or 18 feet,
or a little above the Ferry-house, in 21 feet.
In Halfway-reach there is a shelf lying on the northern side a little below the Breachhouse,
you will readily avoid this by keeping mid-channel.
Close to the south shore, a little below the Powder-house, is a shoal,
which you will avoid by keeping the hill at Purfleet on with Jenningtree-point.
Jenningtree Point
LEFT (southwest) bank marks the transition from Erith Reach into Halfway Reach
It is possible that a Jenning tree was a type of apple (Jenneting = June Eating?)
It was also called Julian Point.
15 miles from London Bridge.
Here the river is bounded by pile driven concrete walls with a concrete path
weaving around the various industrial wharfs and factory outlets.
Jenningtree Point lighthouse was established in 1901.
It stood on foundations on the land side well below the
level of the river bank on the land side. It was 44 feet high and operated by a sun valve
controlling the acetylene gas which was recharged every six months.
By 1990 it was demolished and all trace of it has gone.
Jenningtree Point Lighthouse, by Mike Millichamp -
The long since gone Jenningtree Point Lighthouse, 1929
Jenningtree Buoy
Frog Island
RIGHT (northeast) bank opposite Jenningtree Point
Old man's Head
RIGHT (northeast) bank upstream of Frog Island
Hornchurch Shoot
RIGHT (northeast) bank upstream of Old man's Head
Motor Works
RIGHT (northeast) bank
Dagenham Breach
Now just a lake/marsh 1000m from river, behind the Motor Works RIGHT (north) bank
1792: The Dagenham Breach - Picturesque Views on the River Thames, Samuel Ireland -
IN the beginning of the present century [ 1707 ],
the damage sustained from inundations, at
what is called Dagenham Breach, was of such
direful consequence, as to become an object
of national importance. It was occasioned by the blowing up
[ ie undermining and washing away - not an explosion! ] of a small sluice or
trunk made for the drain of the land-waters on the banks of the Thames, and was at its
beginning not more than sixteen feet broad,
but for want of proper attention, the constant
force and fall of the water, in a few years increased to so great a depth, as to extend in several branches, above a mile and a half into
the country.
IT is computed that more than one hundred
and twenty acres of marsh ground
were washed into the Thames by this inundation.
After many unsuccessful projects,
carried on at an enormous expence by the
land-owners, to stop up this breach; it was
at length relinquished by them as impracticable ;
Parliament, however, considering it as
a circumstance worthy their attention, and
highly necessary for preserving the navigation
of the Thames, appointed trustees for conducting
this work.
ON the 26th day of January, 1715, they entered into a contract with a Captain John
Perry, for making up and stopping the breach in the levels of Dagenham and Havering,
and for so effectually excluding the water, as
to leave no leakage of the fourth part of an
inch, even at the highest tides. This arduous
work was accomplished in less than two
years, for twenty-five thousand pounds, the
sum agreed upon between the Captain and
the Trustees.
1721: Dagenham Breach Map by Captain John Perry -
Dagenham Breach, Perry, 1721
1722: A Tour through the Eastern Counties of England, Daniel Defoe -
We saw, passing from Barking to Dagenham, the famous breach, made by an inundation of the Thames, which was so great as that it laid near 5,000 acres of land under water, but which after near ten years lying under water, and being several times blown up, has been at last effectually stopped by the application of Captain Perry, the gentleman who, for several years, had been employed in the Czar of Muscovys works, at Veronitza, on the River Don. This breach appeared now effectually made up, and they assured us that the new work, where the breach was, is by much esteemed the strongest of all the sea walls in that level.