There were at least 5 Zachariah Buttons living in Thurrock at some time or another, these were Zachariah Button of Fobbing, died 1692, Zachariah Button, died 1706, Zachariah Button of Langdon Hills, died 1729 and Zachariah Button of Mucking Hall, died 1768.

      The Zachariah Button connected to Belmont castle bought the land in 1777 which included arable land, pasture, woodland and chalk pits. To finance his purchase a mortgage was needed of £7,381.5.0. 

                The architect of Belmont Castle was Thomas Jeffery of which little is known.

 This description of Belmont Castle was published in Dr.David Hughson's "Circuit of London" in 1809. "Belmont Castle, most delightfully situated, was the property and residence of the late Zachariah Button Esq. who finished it in an early style of Gothic architecture. The building contains, besides other convenient apartments a circular neatly furnished room, called the round, from whence are the most delightful prospects of the river Thames, of the shipping for many miles, and of the rich Kentish enclosures, to the hills beyond the great Dover road. An elegant drawing room, with circular front highly encircled; a cheerful entrance hall, finished with Gothic mouldings; niches for figures or lamps paved with stone, and black marble dots, a spacious eating room, finished with a highly enriched cornice, stucco grey sides, and Gothic mouldings; a beautiful chimney piece, and wainscot floor. The library is oval shaped, and very elegantly fitted up and finished with Gothic book cases and mouldings, from this room a double flight of handsome stone steps descend to the terrace fronting the great lawn and in view of the river. The large and very excellent kitchen garden is encompassed with the walls, clothed and planted with a choice selection of the best fruit trees, and a capital hot house. Surrounding the house are the pleasure grounds, which are beautifully and tastefully disposed, and ornamented with very valuable forest trees, shrubs & plants, terminating towards the west by a Gothic temple, and to the east by an orchard and paddock. There are two approaches to the house, the one by the neat Gothic lodge, through the great south lawn, from the road between West Thurrock & Grays; and the other from the Village of Stifford, by the north lawn".