Cliffe Quarry

Location:

Clinker manufacture operational: 1874-1914, 1919-1921

Approximate total clinker production: 0.95 million tonnes

Raw materials:

Ownership:

Although it has often been referred to as "Johnson's Works", Johnson never made cement here. The site was used by Johnson solely as his quarry, the chalk being moved by canal or tramway to his Cliffe Creek plant. In the later years, Johnson focused his attention on his Gateshead plant, and having decided to set up his plant at Greenhithe, he sold the quarry to Empson Holcombe - a front organisation for Francis & Co. - in 1876. The latter then proceeded to construct kilns. In 1878 a set of twelve Michele chamber kilns (300 t/week) was built at the north end of the site. By 1881, a further four kilns had been added to the block. Between 1897 and 1908, a further six kilns were added to the north (180 t/week). The rating in 1920 was 700 t/week. The plant was described in detail in the APCM 1924 schedule. After closure, the whiting plant, on the creek opposite the old works, continued in operation. There was no rail link, and all product was shipped from the pier on the creek. The cement plant itself was abandoned after closure. Part of it was built over by an oil depot, but the northern chamber kiln block remains intact, and there is some move to preserve it.

Power supply

The entire plant was direct-driven by steam engines - one of 200 HP for raw grinding and and one of 300 HP for finish grinding.

Rawmills

Used only washmills; 18' primary and secondary mills and two 16' finishing mills.

No rotary kilns were installed.


Sources::