Location:
- Grid reference: TQ91257204
- x=591250
- y=172040
- 51°24'54"N; 0°45'1"E
- Civil Parish: Queenborough, Kent
Clinker manufacture operational: 1882-1912
Approximate total clinker production: 410,000 tonnes
Raw materials:
- Upper Chalk (Seaford Chalk Formation: 85-88 Ma) from perhaps the quarry subsequently used by British Standard, and perhaps after 1902 from Sharp's Green quarry, and probably also from various Medway pits.
- Medway Alluvial Clay
Ownership:
- 1882-1897 Josiah Hall and Co.
- 1897-1911 Queenborough Cement Co. Ltd
- 1911-1912 BPCM (Blue Circle)
There was an early Roman Cement producing site on the creek to the west, well placed for landing dredged septaria from both sides of the Thames estuary. Portland cement manufacture began much later. The original Portland plant probably had a few bottle kilns, but these were replaced by four Johnson kilns (100 t/week) in 1890. To this was added a block of three Michele kilns (80 t/week) before 1896. There followed a period of rapid re-organisation. Seven new Batchelor kilns (202 t/week) were added to the east, and after 1900 the Johnson kilns were rebuilt on Batchelor pattern (115 t/week). The Michele kilns were then demolished and the eastern block was extended with four more Batchelor kilns (116 t/week), supplemented with a Schneider kiln (80 t/week). By 1906, a further three Batchelor kilns (87 t/week) had been added to the western block. The total number of chamber kilns was now 18 (520 t/week), bringing total capacity to Davis’ 1907 total of 600 t/week. The plant originally used only water transport but a rail siding was added in 1904. The plant was shut down on 4/3/1912, and was completely demolished by the end of the year, the site now being occupied by light industrial buildings.
Power supply
The plant was direct-driven by steam engines.
Rawmills
There was an 18' washmill followed by flat stones.
No rotary kilns were installed.
Sources: