EPW019895 ENGLAND (1927). The Bowater Paper Mill, Northfleet, 1927

Northfleet Dockyard preceded Bowaters on this site, an area of 184 acres with a river frontage of 850 feet. Northfleet Dockyard was founded in 1788 by Thomas Pitcher and launched its first vessel in 1789. Eventually the yard passed to William Pitcher, the last of Thomas's two sons, who died in 1860. With a dry dock and 6 slipways, over 190 ships were built for customers including the Honourable East India Company, the Royal West India Mail Company, the Royal Navy and the governments of Russia, Brazil, Spain, Greece and Turkey. The yard was put up for sale in 1865, see Grace's Guide: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Northfleet_Dockyard It was then shown as 'disused' on the 1897 and 1909 OS maps. In 1914, the dockyard was purchased by Bowaters but the advent of the First World War delayed redevelopment until 1924. It appears that the old Northfleet Dockyard may have been used during the First World War. The Imperial War Museum has two photographs showing women making panels for concrete ships at the 'Stewart Concrete Ship Company, Northfleet Dockyard'. See: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205288464 and https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213419 I can't find any other reference to this company in Grace's Guide or elsewhere.

A small lodge remaining from the original dockyard, see 25" to 1 mile OS map of 1897. In front and to the side are the original external walls of 'The Terrace'. This rectangular area within the dockyard contained a mound (see the chalk remains on the left) upon which were built one three storey grand house for the owner and a terrace of five 2 storey houses. The mound was edged by a crenellated wall with a low circular turret at each corner. See the 1851 engraving of the 'Launch of the Orinoco, West India Mail Steamer ...' https://www.designforebbsfleet.org/learning-from-the-river-industry-northfleet-trade-industry

Site of Northfleet Dockyard dry dock. This measured 350 feet long by 74 feet wide (approx. 107m x 23m). It appears to have been filled in and built over probably around 1924 prior to the Bowaters paper mill opening in 1926.

The main gate into Northfleet Dockyard, named on the 1897 and 1909 25 inch to the mile OS maps as 'The Castle'. Subsequent photographs show it still in place in 1932, but demolished by 1939.

London Road

The Shore

Portland Road

The Royal Charlotte Hotel, Dock Row, Northfleet

Red Lion wharf

Red Lion cement works: double row of chamber kilns

site of Imperial cement works chamber kilns

Tilbury Docks

slurry mixer