Small tar distillation works established by Josiah Hall in 1876 and situated on the west side of Hushenden Lane on a site reclaimed from salt marsh c1870. Hall was already manufacturing dyuestuffs from his copperas works on Queenborough wharf at the west end of the Creek and the new venture may have been an experiment in more modern dye makuing processes. Tar for distillation into pitch and dyes was obtained from the Sheppey gas works at West Minster and brought to the works by barge. The 1898 OS map shows a large site but only a few small buildings clustering against the road. The operation closed after Hall's death in 1900 (1). Additional site photographs (2-7) and presently the site now used as a scrapyard (8).

<1> Preston, J 1977 'Industrial Medway: An Historical Survey' (published by the author) p152 (OS Card Reference). SKE48658.

<2> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9518.

<3> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9570.

<4> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10298.

<5> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10299.

<6> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11299.

<7> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11300.

<8> Wessex Archaeology, 2002, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Phase II: Field Assessment (Pilot) (Bibliographic reference). SWX11840.