Purfleet on Thames, Thurrock

If you imagine Purfleet in your head, you think of a heavily industrial area, plonked right next to the M25 and A13 in Thurrock. It has some of the cheapest homes in Essex, and is a popular commuter town - but once struggled to increase its appeal with visitors and people looking to live there.

Purfleet-on-Thames, previously known as Purfleet, has a rich history. First mentioned in 1285, Purfleet went on to become a focal point for the British military, being the main hub for things like gunpowder. Now, the area is full of industrial parks and warehouses, despite being in a picturesque location on the River Thames.

n 2020, residents had enough of their town being overlooked. The town of Purfleet in Essex, England, officially changed its name to Purfleet-on-Thames on July 4, 2020.

The new name was intended to recognise the town's location on the river and attract more investment and visitors. The council said at the time that the new name would "formally recognise the link with the river Thames, help promote the planned regeneration activity, reflect the new aspirations of the people and place, and to support raising the profile of Purfleet."

Purfleet on Thames, Thurrock

EssexLive headed to Purfleet-on-Thames to find out if residents of the town believe that the name change has benefitted the area at all. And the response was incredibly positive.

We spoke with Mr Siam, who owns a convenience store near the town's train station, and has lived there for 25 years. He believes that visitors have a "different attitude" to Purfleet-on-Thames since its name change.

Purfleet on Thames, Thurrock

He said: "Instead of being seen as an industrial hotspot, more people recognise the town as a heritage place. Just adding "on Thames" makes people see it as more of a beautiful place.

"Purfleet is definitely attracting more people now. Lots of people come to Rainham Marshes (a nature reserve) for a walk, or even a wander along the river."

Mr Siam added that the town's commuter value is unmatched. He said: "More people definitely live here after the name change. Its location next to the M25 and the A13 makes it great, and of course we have a train station. The town is made up of a lot of busy, commuting, working class people."

Purfleet on Thames, Thurrock

We also spoke with Sharon Michaels, who moved to Purfleet after the name change. She said: "I moved here in 2020, I think. The name change makes it sound more posh, for sure, like Kingston-on-Thames and places like that.

"The people are friendly, you can easily get to other places in Essex and travel to London, too. Also, the homes are really affordable."

At EssexLive we're on a mission to highlight every corner of Essex. We will be visiting a new neighbourhood every week to talk to the people who live there and capture what life is like across our county. For some places that will highlight the hidden gems there or the reason people are flocking to live there, for others it might allow us to shine a light on an issue that's troubling residents.

Our aim is to get everyone #ExploringEssex more, and venturing further across the county to discover different areas to visit and live in. If you have a suggestion for where we should visit next let us know below or in the comments.