Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Copperas is a green iron sulphate chemical that is used in the dyeing process. Copperas production was undertaken at Queenborough from at least 1579 when Mathias Falconer was operating probably the first works for the manufacture of this dyestuff in Britain. The works was probably located at this site and a description of 1634 speaks of a 1 acre site being used to process pyrites brought from Essex. The copperas beds were in the northern half of the site while the processing buildings, boiler house, warehousing etc was clustered against the wharfs at the south end of the site. In 1886 Hall's works closed and the site was taken over by the Stevens Chemical Manure Co. who had been manufacturing superphosphates from bone at a plant in London since 1847. The new works was named the Sheppey Glue and Chemical Works and by 1900 was using a three chamber absorption plant to create sulphuric acid for use with bones in the production of superphosphate fertilizers. The works also made compounds and potash salts from kelp and glue from bones. The site has subsequently been redeveloped

Monument Types

• SITE (Unknown date)
• COPPERAS WORKS (COPPERAS WORKS, Post Medieval - 1579 AD to 1900 AD (between))

Full description

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Site of Queenborough Copperas Works Multi-phase industrial site situated at the west end of Queenborough Creek, to the south and west of West St., Queenborough. Copperas production was undertaken at Queenborough from at least 1579 when Mathias Falconer was operating probably the first works for the manufacture of this dyestuff in Britain. The works was probably located at this site and a description of 1634 speaks of a 1 acre site being used to process pyrites brought from Essex. The stones having been steeped in sea water were placed in timber troughs through which percolating rain water would drain the liquor to colecting barrels set in the ground below. From there the liquor was channeled to a cistern and hence to a lead boiling tank. The resultant liquor was drained to lead cooling cisterns where it congealed on birch twigs suspended in the liquid. In the early 19th century copperas was still being made at Queenborough at the West St site, though it is not clear if this site is that used by Falconer. In 1847 a copperas works at this site was owned by Josiah Hall, the iron sulphate being collected from beaches on Sheppey and along the Swale. The copperas beds were in the northern half of the site while the processing buildings, boiler house, warehousing etc was clustered against the wharfs at the south end of the site. In 1886 Hall's works closed and the site was taken over by the Stevens Chemical Manure Co. who had been manufacturing superphosphates from bone at a plant in London since 1847. The new works was named the Sheppey Glue and Chemical Works and by 1900 was using a three chamber absorption plant to create sulphuric acid for use with bones in the production of superphosphate fertilizers. The works also made compounds and potash salts from kelp and glue from bones. The site has subsequently been redeveloped (1).

The site is presently in use as a boat repair yard but parts of several standing buildings appear to be of 19th century date. They may be survivals of Halls copperas works reused by the glue and chemical works. The standing buildings in question are against the northern boundary of the site with modern boat sheds to the south (2). Site indicated on 1st ed OS map (1), and shown in site photograph (4).

<1> Preston, J 1977 'Industrial Medway: An Historical Survey' (published by the author) p151-2 (OS Card Reference). SKE48657.

<2> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Site visit D Eve May 1996 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1858-73, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1872-1897 (Map). SWX11831.

<4> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9518.

Sources and further reading

Related thematic articles

• Industrial Kent (Thematic Essay)