Location:
- Grid reference: TQ56707518
- x=556700
- y=175180
- 51°27'14"N; 0°15'19"E
- Civil Parish: Stone, Kent
Clinker manufacture operational: 1890-1896, 1900-1914, 1919-1922
Approximate total clinker production: 300,000 tonnes
Raw materials:
- Upper Chalk (Seaford Chalk Formation: 85-88 Ma) solely from the Stone Court Chalk Land and Pier Co., from Stone Court Lodge quarry at 556900,174600, plus (1900 onwards) Cotton Lane East quarry at 556400,174800. No chalk was sourced north of the railway.
- Alluvial Clay from Stone Marshes.
Ownership:
- 1890-1903 Rosher & East
- 1903-1911 Artillery and Albion Cement Co
- 1911-1922 BPCM (Blue Circle)
There were 14 chamber kilns in 1897-1900. These were probably installed in two sets: 7 (170 t/week) in 1890, and 7 (170 t/week) in 1892. It shut down between 1896 and 1900. A further 7 chamber kilns (170 t/week) were installed around 1904, bringing capacity to 510 t/week. The chamber kilns averaged a fuel consumption of 13.6 MJ/kg. Its activities were combined with those of Albion in 1903. The plant was largely demolished in 1923. The remaining plant was described in a 1924 schedule. There was no rail link, and all product was shipped from Stone Court pier. The area was completely cleared: Meridian House, Crossways occupies the site of the plant.
Power supply
The plant was entirely direct-driven by 300 HP double-expansion steam engine.
Rawmills
The plant used a rough- and an intermediate washmill, followed by three Clarkes screeners.
No rotary kilns were installed.
Sources::
- Primary Sources:
- Greenhithe Archive
- 1924 schedule
- Ordnance Survey 1:2500 mapping
- Confirmatory Sources: