Benfleet Time Line
An illustrated guide
893 AD
The banner of Alfred the Great, whose son and brother-in-law inflicted a crushing defeat on the Vikings at Benfleet . (It is likely that a small church arose in the aftermath)
c.1100
Beginnings of St. Mary’s Church as we know it (heightened and enlarged over the centuries)
1841
Benfleet Tithe Map
1845
Benfleet National School, School Lane, opens
1855
Railway arrives
1877
First Methodist (Wesleyan) Church Opened (School Lane)
1903
Wooden railway station burns down
1903
Water tower completed
1911
Horse trough installed at Church Corner
1912
New station open current position
1914
New Cemetery – Cemetery Corner is born
1920
War memorial installed
1924
Voluntary Fire Brigade formed
1926
New school opens in the High Road
1928
Parade of Shops built by Richmond Avenue
1931
Methodist Church opened in High Road
1931
First bridge (swing) to Canvey opened
1932
Knightleys at Church Corner demolished
1934
Downs opened
1938
Essex Way opens
1949
New Bell added to Church for thanksgiving for victory in the War. Older bells date back as far as the 1600’s
1953
Canvey Island Floods
1962
Railway electrification &
Demolition of many creekside buildings
1966
Shops uphill from Hoy demolished
1969
Crown becomes the Half Crown
1973
Current bridge opened
1988
Conservation area designated
1995
New Library Opened
2005
Methodist Church Welcome Area opened
2010
Benfleet Community Archive Formed
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