William Thomas Henley began manufacturing insulated wires in 1837, buliding a factory at North Woolwich in 1859. In 1906 W T Henley's Telegraph Works Co Ltd established its factory on this site to make paper-insulated and dry-core cables. Like the North Woolwich factory this complex included wharf facilities but, perhaps more impressively, extensive purpose built research laboratories. In 1926 and 1937 the works were extended eastwards onto part of what had been Rosherville Gardens. The Second World War saw Henley's company winning praise for various tasks performed for King and Country, especially its contribution to 'Operation Pluto', the system of petrol pipelines across the English Channel. (1-2). The GIS polygon represents the earliest extent of the Cable factory, as shown on the 3rd edition OS map of the area (3) the site had been cleared of all buildings by the 2016 Aerial photographs.

<1> RCHME, 1994, The Lower Thames in 1994, a photographic survey from the river Blackwell to Tilbury and Greenwich to Gravesend, Neg. AA94/3436 (Photograph). SWX9333.

<2> Gravesham Borough Council, Discover Gravesham -
WT Henley Telegraph Works (Website). SKE53526.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1905-10, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 3rd edition: 1901-1912 (Map). SWX11833.