The site at Shoreham is situated within the Beeding Chalk Pit which has been used since the early nineteenth century. The Beeding Portland Cement Company was founded in c.1878 and began cement production at the site in c.1883, with a recorded output of 144 tonnes of cement per week. The location of the works was chosen due to the positioning of the River Adur in proximity to the west, allowing the transportation of raw materials to the site (clay, coal, sand and gypsum) by barge.
The facility was expanded by c.1902 which included the development of several large kilns and chalk wash mills, bringing production to 800 tonnes per week . Extensive railway links had also been developed across the pit by this time, which extended off site towards the north west and south west. Further infrastructure was developed at the site between c.1902 and c.1933 however, the works was temporarily shut down for the duration of the Second World War.
The works was completely rebuilt between c.1946 and c.1952, to accommodate the rising demand for cement after the Second World War, and was re-named the ‘Shoreham Cement Works’. The production part of the works was recorded as comprising a chalk crushing plant, several wash mills, a mixing plant, rotary kilns, coal, gypsum and clinker stores, crushing mills and a number of cement storage silos . This state of the art design provided hundreds of jobs in the local community and was recorded to have a production output of 550 tonnes of cement per day. A number of minor reconfigurations were recorded at the works between c.1952 and c.1980 to increase production and improve overall efficiency.
Production did not cease until c.1991 which was primarily due to the limitations of the old design and the inadequate production in comparison to newer facilities in the area. Additionally, there were concerns relating to the amount of dust that the works was expelling across the surrounding area which posed both environmental and anthropological health risks.
The explore
This was our 4th visit to the site. Accompanied by @Webbs0710 and another explorer who hadn't yet been. While looking for an entry point i was startled by a group already inside and totally missed the hole rite below me after asking them their access point we got inside to find a drop with a dodgy rope so decided to find another way only to be rite back where i was and noticing the easy way it rite in front of me 🙄😂
Once inside we headed for the massive rotary kilns so they could get some shots of them first incase secca caught us at some point
Its nice to see very little has changed over the few years of seeing this apart from the inevitable natural decay
Others were eager to see the generator room but i suggested waiting till last incase secca did a round and saw is inside so we headed up the conveyor to the section above the silos
As well headed up the conveyor my partner signalled to us to freeze then pointed at one of the windows saying he sees secca walking along the road from the direction of the generator room we waited a few mins then continued on relieved that we had indeed waited to check out the generators
After completing this section it was time to check out the generator room I thought it best we get what pics they want as quickly as possible
After everyone had got the shots they wanted we climbed back into the warehouse while they put the gear away i noticed a window in the corner that was potentially an easy way out but then realised it was flooded then all a sudden i see secca walk past again 😳 signalling to the other we all ducted down until i saw him pass by the power room and disappear behind the silos, yet again pure luck we had timed it perfectly 😂 with everything of interest seen we decided this was the best time to make our exit knowing secca shouldn't be making an appearance for a lil while
Thanks for looking
The facility was expanded by c.1902 which included the development of several large kilns and chalk wash mills, bringing production to 800 tonnes per week . Extensive railway links had also been developed across the pit by this time, which extended off site towards the north west and south west. Further infrastructure was developed at the site between c.1902 and c.1933 however, the works was temporarily shut down for the duration of the Second World War.
The works was completely rebuilt between c.1946 and c.1952, to accommodate the rising demand for cement after the Second World War, and was re-named the ‘Shoreham Cement Works’. The production part of the works was recorded as comprising a chalk crushing plant, several wash mills, a mixing plant, rotary kilns, coal, gypsum and clinker stores, crushing mills and a number of cement storage silos . This state of the art design provided hundreds of jobs in the local community and was recorded to have a production output of 550 tonnes of cement per day. A number of minor reconfigurations were recorded at the works between c.1952 and c.1980 to increase production and improve overall efficiency.
Production did not cease until c.1991 which was primarily due to the limitations of the old design and the inadequate production in comparison to newer facilities in the area. Additionally, there were concerns relating to the amount of dust that the works was expelling across the surrounding area which posed both environmental and anthropological health risks.
The explore
This was our 4th visit to the site. Accompanied by @Webbs0710 and another explorer who hadn't yet been. While looking for an entry point i was startled by a group already inside and totally missed the hole rite below me after asking them their access point we got inside to find a drop with a dodgy rope so decided to find another way only to be rite back where i was and noticing the easy way it rite in front of me 🙄😂
Once inside we headed for the massive rotary kilns so they could get some shots of them first incase secca caught us at some point
Its nice to see very little has changed over the few years of seeing this apart from the inevitable natural decay
Others were eager to see the generator room but i suggested waiting till last incase secca did a round and saw is inside so we headed up the conveyor to the section above the silos
As well headed up the conveyor my partner signalled to us to freeze then pointed at one of the windows saying he sees secca walking along the road from the direction of the generator room we waited a few mins then continued on relieved that we had indeed waited to check out the generators
After completing this section it was time to check out the generator room I thought it best we get what pics they want as quickly as possible
After everyone had got the shots they wanted we climbed back into the warehouse while they put the gear away i noticed a window in the corner that was potentially an easy way out but then realised it was flooded then all a sudden i see secca walk past again 😳 signalling to the other we all ducted down until i saw him pass by the power room and disappear behind the silos, yet again pure luck we had timed it perfectly 😂 with everything of interest seen we decided this was the best time to make our exit knowing secca shouldn't be making an appearance for a lil while
Thanks for looking
