Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Tram tunnel built in the 1920's-30's to link northern quarry with new southern quarry.

Location accurate to 2m based on available information.

Monument Types

• TRAMWAY TUNNEL (Abandoned, Modern - 1920 AD? to 1920 AD (post))

Full description

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Large chalk pit or series of pits lying to the south-west of Northfleet Hill, divided centrally by the North Kent railway. Quarrying to the north of the line was established by the late 19th century and continued until the 1930s. These quarries supplied the London Portland Cement Work (now Blue Circle) to the north of the High Street. This was originally achieved via a tunnel situated toward the north-eastern corner of the pit TQ6236873995 (TQ 67 SW 249), which extended for some length below The Hill and latterly (post-war) through a second tunnel to the west TQ6225074306 (TQ 67 SW 250)and below the High Street. Quarrying to the south of the railway started around the 1920-30s and when the quarries the north had been exhausted. A tunnel TQ6225473804 (TQ 67 SW 251) was bored below the railway line and linked into a reduced eastern tramway.

Access denied verification as to whether the eastern tunnel remained, although its survival, in a modernised form, is likely. The much later western tunnel does remain, although blocked, as does a considerable length of the tram track, providing direct access to sidings adjacent to the main North Kent line. Tunnels below the rail track also survive but, have been modernised as part of the CTRL works. These works have significantly re-landscaped the railway corridor in the immediate area. The later quarry to the south of the railway is now a large water filled reservoir.(1)

Tunnel is visible on early OS.

Location accurate to 2m based on available information.

<1> Essex County Council, 2003, Aggregates Levy Survey Industrial Sites, KN582 (Unpublished document). SKE12009.

Sources and further reading

Related records