Aberthaw Cement Works
Aberthaw Cement Works are
History
The Blue Lias limestone of Aberthaw was a source of hydraulic lime from early times, and it was made famous when it was selected by John Smeaton for the construction of the Eddystone Lighthouse but various records of Aberthaw Blue Lias limestone's processing are not consistent. Evidently, limestone pebbles from Aberthaw's coastline were transported inland for burning at other limekilns but much was shipped across the Bristol Channel from the Port of Aberthaw, for burning at Three Kilns, Cleeve Hill, near Watchet, Somerset. One historical account states that John Smeaton used Watchet's burned lime which was shipped to Millbay, Plymouth for his Eddystone lighthouse construction in 1756. It was not until 1888 that a (pebble) limeworks and kilns, were constructed alongside Pleasant Harbour, East Aberthaw but that works, which had become rail-served by 1892, closed in 1926. It is on record that geologically, the limestone seam at Aberthaw runs under the Bristol Channel and is also present at Watchet.
The Aberthaw and Bristol Channel Portland Cement Company was established in 1912 by the Beynon family. The site at Aberthaw was chosen as it was near the necessary raw material, limestone and coal from the
In 1967, Kiln 5 (51°23′51″N 3°23′38″W / 51.39743°N 3.393965°W) was installed. This was a much more efficient dry process kiln. The wet process kilns were decommissioned in 1974, and Kiln 6 - also a dry kiln - (51°23′51″N 3°23′40″W / 51.397507°N 3.394326°W) was started in 1975. Kiln 6 remains in operation today.
In 1919 the company took over the nearby Aberthaw and Rhoose Point Portland and Lime Company.
in 1983. In 1987, Rhoose Works closed and was later completely demolished. The former Rhoose works kiln firing fuel had gone from coal to oil, then gas. The same applied to Aberthaw but reversion to coal came in 1979 but Aberthaw plant was authorised to burn whole tyres as fuel from 2013, with no impact on the environment.Watercolour artist Thomas Frederick Worrall worked for a few years at the cement works from when it was first opened.[1]
See also
- Aberthaw
- Aberthaw Power Station
- Aberthaw lime works
References
- ^ See birth certificate of Bessie Worrall: Births in the sub-district of St Nicholas, in the county of Glamorgan no. 360, 1913, showing the occupation of Thomas F. Worrall as time keeper in cement works