EPW026627 ENGLAND (1929). The Tunnel Portland Cement Works and Tunnel Wharf, West Thurrock, from the south, 1929

Good view of the old wharf. When the big kilns 6 and 7 were installed in the 1930s, a new deep water wharf was added towards the left of the picture, and the old wharf remained in use for coal.

The West Thurrock Plant of the Tunnel Portland Cement Company Ltd. The plant began in a small way in 1874, but became much more significant when it was acquired by the Danish firm F L Smidth in 1911, when it was rebuilt on up-to-date lines and rapidly expanded. By the time of the photograph, the original two rotary kilns had increased to four, and a further three were installed before WWII. By 1938 it was the largest British plant, and remained so until 1970. It closed in 1976. The Tunnel name was derived from Tunnel Farm, which still stood at this time, on the top of the quarry face behind the plant.