Last Alteration: Monday 10 December 2007
Lafarge Cement (Northfleet)
Lafarge Cement (Northfleet)
The Shore, Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AN
Formerly known as Blue Circle Cement
The cement works at Northfleet opened in 1970 by Blue Circle Industries and had the capacity to produce over a million tonnes of cement each year. It was taken other by Lafarge in 2002, becoming Lafarge Cement UK. The Northfleet works is now due to be closed down in 2008 and will be redeveloped as a mix of homes and leisure facilities, plus a potential for a rail connection with nearby Ebbsfleet.
10th December 2007: Dawn Moore of Lafarge Cement has kindly provided us with a photograph of the tunnel, and a brief update on developments at the site. "The current Northfleet site was constructed in 1968/69, however cement has been produced around the Northfleet site for almost 200 years. To the best of our current engineers' knowledge there were some tunnels in that location prior to the 1960's but the ones we see today were built, or at least substantially modified for the current Works, so would probably have been constructed/modified around the mid 60's.
"Due to the exhaustion of reserves Northfleet Works will shortly be closing. The production of clinker ends in April next year and a three year demolition programme will commence. The site will be re-developed, as part of the Kent Thameside regeneration project, with a mixture of industrial and residential use. At this time I do not know how these future plans may affect the tunnels."
How to get here:
»
Road: A2 - Northfleet lies off the A2, north from the junction with the A2260. Follow the road north across a roundabout, and then right at the next. The road then goes through a tunnel under the railway and then to another roundabout. Go straight across this (Rosherville) and this passes through the cliff to Crete Hall Road. Turn left, and then follow this all the way as it eventually bears right and come to the The Shore by the Thames. The cement works is at the end of the road. Parking: roadside. +
This location is private and has no or limited access only. There used to be a public footpath through the site, but this was closed in the interests of public safety after a new wharf was built, so there is no public access into the location.
Access: privateStatus: recognisableTunnel
Photograph taken: 10th December 2007 by Dawn Moore, Lafarge Northfleet
[view other photos in this album]
The Ambassadors of Death (1)
Filmed: 3-4 Feb 1970
The Doctor arrives at the Space Control Centre.
Other nearby locations:
»
Bluewater (The Mutants). Road (5.4 miles, 15m) : Head away from the cement works and onto Crete Hall Road. Turn right onto Rosherville Way and join the A2260 heading south towards the A2 and London. At the A2, head west towards the M25/London. Exit the A2 at the Bluewater turnoff and follow the road to the shopping centre. Parking: car park.
»
John's Hole Quarry (The Dalek Invasion of Earth). Road (5.4 miles, 15m) : Head away from the cement works and onto Crete Hall Road. Turn right onto Rosherville Way and join the A2260 heading south towards the A2 and London. Turn right onto Dover Road and then continue along London Road (A226) until you reach the roundabout with the A206 (to Bluewater). Go straight across and continue on London Road until you reach the quarry (after Oak Road). Parking: roadside.
»
Stone House Farm (caves) (The Mutants). Road (10.2 miles, 18m) : Head away from the cement works and onto Crete Hall Road. Turn right onto Rosherville Way and join the A2260 heading south towards the A2 and London. At the A2, head east towards Canterbury. At the junction where the A2 becomes the M2, instead take the A289 and follow it until the B2000; turn left and the caves are on the right-hand side past some cottages. Parking: roadside near Stone House Farm, opposite.
Additional locations as the crow flies:
»
Wrotham Quarry (The Dominators): 9.57 miles.
»
Kingsnorth Industrial Estate (Inferno): 11.36 miles.
»
Chislehurst Caves (The Mutants): 12.42 miles.
»
Greenwich Gas Works (Silver Nemesis): 14.64 miles.
»
National Maritime Museum (Dimensions in Time): 14.87 miles.
Further links about the location
»
Lafarge Cement - Details on the Blue Circle Cement works
Related Stories
»
The Ambassadors of Death [3-4 Feb 1970]
All photographs are the copyright of the photographer and may not be utilised on any other website or media without permission.
All screen captures are the copyright of the BBC and appear here as reference to illustrate the location in comparison with it looked at the time of filming and the present day; no attempt is made to supercede this or any other copyright.
