North Stifford Village
Davy Down Riverside Park

Davy Down is a peaceful, relaxing setting in which you can explore the countryside, enjoy the wildlife and take a look at some local historic buildings.

Before it was opened to the public in May 1993 Davy Down had a long history of farming, dating back to at least 1730.
More recently the land was used for market gardening, which was abandoned when the new A13 was built, splitting the land holding in half.

The farm soon became derelict and unsightly and remained so until the Davy Down Project began.
The area also retains a rich heritage in the form of the impressive railway viaduct across the Mardyke Valley which dates from 1892.

There are also the dominant Stifford Pumping Station buildings, built in 1926-27 to house large diesel engines which provided the power to extract water from a 42m deep borehole in the chalk below.

Water is still being extracted today using a modern electric pump.

The 13 hectare site has an information centre, a picnic area and 2.9km (1.8 miles) of paths going through water meadows, woodland, ponds, and along the banks of the River Mardyke.
Davy Down Warden Steve Mitchell holding his assistant warden Boris standing next to one of the huge diesel engines.
Davy Down is the key gateway to the Mardyke Way, which runs for 12km (7.5miles) along the ancient river valley from Bulphan in north Thurrock, downstream to Aveley. Davy Down Riverside Park was developed in partnership with local residents.

It is both easy to get to and a great place to come for a walk, a bike ride, a picnic, or simply to relax. The park is also accessible to wheelchair users and pushchairs.

Wildlife
The Davy Down Riverside Park provides a rich habitat for a range of animals and plants.

The ponds and wetlands are a particularly good place to spot water voles or kingfishers as well as colourful insects such as dragonflies, glow-worms and numerous species of butterfly.

Other wildlife include foxes herons parakeets swans and marsh frogs etc.

Facilities
Adjacent to the pumping station is an Information Centre. There is also a tactile notice board, with map and footpath information. Outside the centre is a picnic site, with tables that are suitable for wheelchair users. Toilets, baby-changing and disabled toilets are available.

How to find Davy Down Riverside Park
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. Free information is available at the Information Centre.

By Car
Davy Down is located close to Chafford Hundred, along Pilgrims Lane (B186). This can be reached via the A1306 Arterial Road (take junction 31 of the M25, or the Grays exit of the A13). Car parking is available on site. Disabled spaces are located behind the pumping station, 250m past the main parking area. There is also a car park at Stifford Bridge, at the junction of Pilgrims Lane and Stifford Hill.

By Bus
Bus number 370, 348 and 373 services the Davy Down Riverside Park. For information call Traveline on 0870 608 2608.

By Train
The nearest train station is Chafford Hundred, which is a ten to fifteen-minute (2km) walk away.

Accessible Transport
Trans-vol provides accessible transport for people with impairments in Thurrock. Bookings an be made on 01375 391444.

© This website and its content including photographs are the copyright of Cliff and Jan Cowin and parts have been based on extracts from their book ‘The Idyll in the Middyl’. Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited. You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system. 2006 - 2015