EPW031372 ENGLAND (1930). The Alpha Cement Works and the River Cherwell, Shipton-on-Cherwell, 1930

The Oxford cement plant (sometimes known as Shipton on Cherwell Works) was started by the Oxford and Shipton Cement Co. Ltd as a private venture in 1929, and replaced the obsolete Kirtlington plant 3 km to the north. In 1934, the plant was acquired by the Alpha Cement Co. Ltd, which was in turn acquired by APCM in 1938. From an initial two kiln operation, the plant reached its final three kiln form in 1935, when its capacity reached around 300,000 tonnes per year. The plant was run down after 1975, and ceased clinker manufacture in 1987. For details, history and many links, see [[http://www.cementkilns.co.uk/cement_kiln_oxford.html]].



Because of the long narrow site, between the quarry lands and the river, the plant has an easily understood linear arrangement.