THIS week in Down Memory Lane we look at the history of the Thameside Complex, Grays, which houses the library, theatre and both the Thurrock Museum gallery and stores.

The first phase of the ambitious building project was proudly launched by Cllr. Pat Bolger OBE on February 24, 1968, on the site of the old library.

The first Grays Library was situated in No 1 Bank Buildings, Grays High Street, but by 1902 it was short of space, as by then it had 1884 volumes.

The library committee decided to write to Andrew Carnegie, appealing for a donation towards the cost of building a new public library.

Carnegie was born in Scotland in 1835, but moved to the United States, and settled in Pennsylvania. He had a series of jobs, but in 1865 set up his own steelworks company.

When he was 65 he sold the company to JP Morgan for $480million and devoted the rest of his life to philanthropic activities, especially his own life long interest in the establishment of libraries. He eventually spent over $56million and established 2,509 libraries throughout the world.

A reply to the Grays committee’s letter was received from Mr Carnegie's secretary on June 23, 1902, stating Mr Carnegie was willing to donate £3,000 for the building, provided a site could be found (one was found in Orsett Road, between Cromwell Road and Titan Road (now Cart Lane).

The Countess of Warwick opened the library, pictured above, on November 11, 1903. It cost £2,591.

By the 1960s there was a drive to increase educational and cultural access in Thurrock and ambitious plans to accommodate Thurrock Urban District Council offices, library, theatre and museum were proposed, but found to be to costly.

The model of the first design is in the museum collection, later to have the council office element removed.

The final phase was completed and opened in October 1971, by Lord Goodman, at a cost reported at £830,000.