epw017640 ENGLAND (1927). The Portland Cement Works, Northfleet, 1927

James Parker, a clergyman and cement manufacturer developed Roman or 'natural' cement in the 1780s at his plant at Northfleet Creek, Kent in response to the need to produce a product which had a fast drying time. His patent for the material in 1796 described the product as 'A certain Cement or Terras to be used in Aquatic and other Buildings and Stucco Work'. It was nothing like the cement used by the Romans, the name was possibly adopted because of its quick-drying properties, as concrete used by the Romans also enabled them to build their dock walls under water. Parker used naturally occurring clay-rich limestone found as nodules in the London clay deposits on the Isle of Sheppey. The nodules were burnt and then ground to a fine powder which, when made into mortar with sand and water, set in 5 to 15 minutes. For the grinding process Parker may have used an ancient tidal water mill at the head of the creek or a nearby windmill. 'Natural' cement from Parker's Northfleet works was used in the decoration for the Neo Gothic folly Hadlow Tower, Hadlow, Kent (now a Grade 1* Listed Building). The same cement was used during its restoration (2010-2013) but had to be imported from Grenoble, France as it is no longer made in the UK.

Info from 'Hadlow Castle, Creation & Restoration' 2015.

Particularly good closeup from the west showing the wharf and the chaotic layout of the kiln house.

Picture of APCM's Bevans Cement Plant . The plant had been shut down in 1921 for a complete re-build, and the first of the three new kilns was lit up on 23/03/1926. When the third kiln was lit in the following August, it became Britain’s largest plant. A fourth kiln was installed at the end of 1928. The plant shut down in 1970 when it was replaced by the adjacent Northfleet plant. The slurry was made at a quarry 1 km to the southwest and was pumped to the mixers shown. The abandoned slurry "backs" used in the nineteenth century plant are still in place. The deep water wharf was a major part of the new project, and the plant was reserved mainly for exports.