Stewart Brothers and Spencer constructed an oilseed crushing mill in 1878-80. Burnt down 1884, rebuilt, refinery added 1890, vegetable oil soap plant 1894. Crushing mill and refinery closed 1949, the whole siye closed 1953. Since demolished. (1)
Stewart Brothers an Spencer constructed a mill at Strood in 1878-80 but it burnt down on Nov 9th 1884. Following rebuilding the mill reopened in 1885. An oil refinery was built at the site in 1890 and shortly before 1894 a plant for making vegetable oil soap was added. Both these were burnt down in 1899, the year the company merged with British Oil and Cake Mills Ltd. Compound cake presses were installed the same year and enlarged in 1909 and 1912. The first Schueler nutting machine was installed in 1916, all the compounders being replaced in 1925. The crushing mill and refinery closed in 1949 and compounding finished in 1953 after a flood had inundated the works.(2)

<1> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Brace 1960 Hist Seed Crushing in GB p 155-6 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<2> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Preston, JM 1977 'Industrial Medway: an Historical Survey' (Rochester: JM Preston) (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.