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Monument details

HER Number:	TQ 67 SW 1004
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	GEC Henley cable factory

Summary

GEC Wire & Cables Group, established its factory on site established in 1906 to make paper-insulated and dry-core cables. In 1926 and 1937 the works were extended eastwards onto part of what had been Rosherville Gardens. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Grid Reference:	TQ 6338 7436
Map Sheet:	TQ67SW
Parish:	GRAVESEND, GRAVESHAM, KENT

Monument Types

FACTORY (Built 1906, Modern - 1901 AD to 2016 AD?)

Full description

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William Thomas Henley began manufacturing insulated wires in 1837, buliding a factory at North Woolwich in 1859. In 1906 W T Henley's Telegraph Works Co Ltd established its factory on this site to make paper-insulated and dry-core cables. Like the North Woolwich factory this complex included wharf facilities but, perhaps more impressively, extensive purpose built research laboratories. In 1926 and 1937 the works were extended eastwards onto part of what had been Rosherville Gardens. The Second World War saw Henley's company winning praise for various tasks performed for King and Country, especially its contribution to 'Operation Pluto', the system of petrol pipelines across the English Channel. (1-2). The GIS polygon represents the earliest extent of the Cable factory, as shown on the 3rd edition OS map of the area (3) the site had been cleared of all buildings by the 2016 Aerial photographs.

<1> RCHME, 1994, The Lower Thames in 1994, a photographic survey from the river Blackwell to Tilbury and Greenwich to Gravesend, Neg. AA94/3436 (Photograph). SWX9333.

<2> Gravesham Borough Council, Discover Gravesham -
WT Henley Telegraph Works (Website). SKE53526.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1905-10, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 3rd edition: 1901-1912 (Map). SWX11833.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref.	Source description
<1>	Photograph: RCHME. 1994. The Lower Thames in 1994, a photographic survey from the river Blackwell to Tilbury and Greenwich to Gravesend. various. Neg. AA94/3436.
<2>	Website: Gravesham Borough Council. Discover Gravesham - WT Henley Telegraph Works.
<3>XY	Map: Ordnance Survey. 1905-10. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 3rd edition: 1901-1912. 1:2500. [Mapped feature: #107060 factory, ]

Related records

TQ 67 SW 1032

Parent of: Henly's Jetty, Gravesend (Monument)