EPW026630 ENGLAND (1929). The Thames Portland Cement Works, South Stifford, 1929

The Thames cement works and its chalk quarry ( often called

Gibbs pit ) was in West Thurrock and NOT in South Stifford.

The boundary line between the two is Mill lane which runs

roughly down the centre of picture.On the right of picture

( south stifford ) is part of the Lion chalk quarry,being dug

out by the Wouldham cement co.In 1927 a b/w war film called

"The guns of Loos was filmed in the old Gibbs pit in West

Thurrock.

Reasonable close-up.

For details, history and many links, see [[http://www.cementkilns.co.uk/cement_kiln_thames.html]].

Reasonable close-up, and the remains of kilns are visible.

The Thames Cement Plant (often called Gibbs Works) was started in 1872. It was acquired by APCM in 1900 and closed after the acquisition of the more efficient Wouldham plant in 1911. It may have been re-opened for a short period around 1920, but was then abandoned, and its quarry reserves were merged with those of Wouldham. It was one of the plants at which the first-generation Ransome rotary kilns were tried in the 1880s, without success.