EPW018804 ENGLAND (1927). The Ship Canal Portland Cement Works, Ellesmere Port, 1927

The Ellesmere Port cement plant (also known as the Ship Canal Works) was started in 1912 by the Ship Canal Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd, on the site of the Smelting Corporation plant. The plant had no on-site raw materials. Limestone was brought by sea from the Little Orme, and shale by rail from Llangwstenin. It commenced as a three-kiln dry process plant. In 1920 two larger wet process kilns were installed, and a third was installed in 1927. The photograph may have been taken on the commissioning day of the latter. The plant was acquired by the Red Triangle Group in 1926, and on the collapse of the latter in 1931, it was acquired by APCM who after a short time shut it down. For details, history and many links, see [[http://www.cementkilns.co.uk/cement_kiln_ellesmere.html]].

A good example of how the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal attracted industry to its banks.