Hauxton

Location:

Clinker manufacture operational: 1895-1903

Approximate total clinker production: 4000 tonnes

Raw materials: Chalk Marl (West Melbury Marly Chalk Formation: 97-100 Ma) from pit at 543800,252800

Ownership: Edward C. Colchester

This was a small plant with a single bottle kiln burning un-ground marl from a slot-mine primarily worked for "coprolite"; probable output 25 t/week of a very marginal product. Colchester was a fertiliser merchant working the local coprolites on land leased from Jesus College. Brick, and subsequently cement manufacture were sidelines attempted after the fall in price of phosphates in the 1890s. This was one of the last operational coprolite diggings, and a large part of the 36 Ha field had probably already been extracted. The emphatic failure of the cement venture probably served to finally terminate the venture. The lack of any obvious transportation links is a moot point, since the product of this absurd plant could probably be distributed in a wheelbarrow. The area, with the exception of the flooded quarry, has been returned to agriculture.

No rotary kilns were installed.


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