Quarry

Location:

Clinker manufacture operational: 1889-11/1907

Approximate total clinker production: 520,000 tonnes

Raw materials:

Ownership:

See also a general history of the Frindsbury cement plants. This was the last Frindsbury plant, filling in the gap at the north end of Beehive Quay. It was built by George Burge Jr for his Gillingham PC Co. Ltd. Five Batchelor chamber kilns were installed in 1889, a further three in 1890, eight in 1892, five in 1894 and four in 1896, giving a final total capacity of 772 t/week from 25 kilns. The plant was absorbed into the Crown and Quarry site in 1907, with the kilns continuing in intermittent use until 1925.

Power supply

The original plant was entirely direct-driven by steam engine. Around 1900, gas engines replaced the rawmill steam engine.

Rawmills

There was a washmill followed by seven flat stone mills. The stones were subsequently replaced with a screening mill, and the mills were retained as the Crown & Quarry rawmill.

No rotary kilns were installed.


Sources:

At the time of the APCM takeover, the plant was assessed for building insurance. In the Rochester Bridge Commissioners' Archive, item E14/01/117 includes a schedule and plan. The schedule describes the plant with reference to the sketch plan. The details from the latter have been re-drawn on the Ordnance survey map.

Quarry plan Base map courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. View in higher definition.

Proposal for Insurance in the Kent Fire Office of the various Buildings of Cement Works, Cooperage & Workshops, known as the "Quarry Cement Works", at Frindsbury near Rochester in the occupation of Messrs J. Bazley White & Bros., & belonging to the Wardens and Commonalty of Rochester Bridge.

section£. s. d.
On the Building of Dry Mill, Cement Store & Loading Shed, all continuing, marked AA'.BB' on plan -
A, B & B' Brick & Slate, A' Timber, W.Bd. & Felt		1300-0-0
On the Building Boiler & Engine House & Store marked C, D & H'; adjoining the last -
Brick & Slate		800-0-0
On the Building Office & Testing Room marked E on plan, detatched -
Brick and Slate		200-0-0
On the Buildings of Wet Mill, Brick & Slate, & Workmen's Mass Room, Brick & Iron, marked F & F' on Plan - detached300-0-0
On the Building of Dry Mill & Loading Shed marked G & G' on Plan adjoining D & H' -
G Brick & Slate, G' Brick & Slate & Brick & Iron		700-0-0
On Buildings all continuing marked J, K, K', K'' on Plan & occupied as follows:-
J, Barrel Store, Concrete & all iron roof
K, Cooperage, concrete & timber *iron roof
K', Steam Cooperage, concrete & timber & iron roof
K'', Drying Room, concrete & timber & iron roof 		750-0-0
On General Store, marked L, Brick & Concrete & iron50-0-0
On Carpenters' Shop, marked L', Brick & Concrete & iron30-0-0
On Oil Store adjoining, Brick & Iron20-0-0
On Engineers' Shop, marked L'', Brick & Concrete & iron60-0-0
On detached Lumber Store, marked M, Timber, W.Bd. & corrugated Iron25-0-0
On Roof over Tramway, Timber, W.Bd. & corrugated Iron40-0-0
On Building of Cement Shed, marked I,I, Brick & Iron150-0-0
4425-0-0

(signed)

Rochester Aug 18th 1900