a market-town of the hundred of Beacontree, in the county of Essex, seven miles from London, on a creek which receives the river Rhoding, communicating with the Thames. It is in a rich marshy district, and its situation is considered unhealthy. The parish church is a large and handsome building. The inhabitants, of whom a large proportion are fishermen, amounted in 1801 to 1583, in 1811 to 2421, and in 1821 to 2580.