Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Extraction pit to the south of the main Swanscombe Cement Works (TQ 67 NW 98) and between London Road and the railway line. It was part of the Swanscombe Cement Works set up by James Frost in 1825 it ceased operation in 1990.

Location accurate to 2m based on available information

Monument Types

• QUARRY (Abandoned, Post Medieval to Modern - 1830 AD? to 1990 AD? (at some time))

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Extraction pit to the south of the main Swanscombe Cement Works (TQ 67 NW 98) and between London Road and the railway line. It was in use by the 1870s and shown on the 1st ED OS map, supplying the main works to the north. By the 1890s the cement works had expanded south into the pit, with the main extraction moving south to Barnfield Pit (TQ 57 SE 150). The site remained active until the plants final closure in 1990, when the surviving buildings were demolished in advance of redevelopment. A modern industrial plant now occupies the main part of the site. Access onto site was not available. The tramway tunnel from the Barnfield Pit does survive, however the survival of the tunnels running under London Road to the main Cement Works to the north are unconfirmed.(1)

The quarry was part of the Swanscombe Cement Works set up by James Frost in 1825. By the late 19th century the pit had been worked out and was instead used fro the expansion of the main processing plant housing a number of kilns and was mills. The pit also housed an engine shed for stationary engines built in 1906. In the 1930's the kilns were replaced by a whiting plant and a number of mixing tanks. Few of the pre-1930 buildings survived until 1990 when the quarry site closed .(2)

Location accurate to 2m based on available information

<1> Essex County Council, 2003, Aggregates Levy Survey Industrial Sites, KN574 (Unpublished document). SKE12009.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2003, Historic Buildings Appraisal of Craylands Lane Pit, Swanscombe, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12255.

Sources and further reading

Related records