James Frost set up a works in 1825 to make artificial cement. This was later purchased by Francis & White in 1833, and solely operated by J. B. White & Son from 1838. Frost used grinding mills with iron shod wheels were used to crush chalk before use, which was then mixed with clay (from near Upnor) and water in a wash mill. It then settled in a washback until dried to a paste and cut out to be burn in a kiln. Later White manufactures Portland Cement in a similar fashion. In 1862 the works employed 750 and produced 30,000 tons of cement a year. In 1900 the site became part of APCM (Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers) and the first commercially operated rotary kiln was installed. By 1909 this number had increased to 16. Up to 1937 clay for the cement had been dug from Cliffe Marshes and transported to the works on 1,000 ton boats.

The works were originally situated in a trianular area between Manor Way/Lower Road, London Road and Pilgrims Road. In the 1870's it consisted of three widely spaced main buildings with four washbacks against Manor Way (centred on TQ6008075108). A small chalk pit operated to the south of London Road (TQ6011574914) and two cement pits to the north (Centred TQ6014375484). A tramway ran from the works, past the cement pits, up to Bell Wharf on the Thames (TQ 67 NW 1012). By 1897 the site had expanded considerably with washbacks and ovens built. The two cement pits had gone and in their place a marshalling yard for the trams to the river wharf, which also had developed. The tramway was extended and new pits works and old pits extended. By 1910 the site had spread north of Manor Way and more alterations had been made to the main work complex, with the western part redeveloped and several buildings demolished. By the 1930's an aerial ropeway had been installed form the works to Bell Wharf and four large wash mills built to the east of the main works and two in the old pit south of London Road. The site had been closed and demolished by 1995.(1)

<1> Eve, David., 1999, The Cement Industry in Kent: Results of a Sites and Monuments Record Enhancement Project 1996 - 98 (Unpublished document). SKE12011.

<2> The London Resort, 2020, The London Resort Development Consent Order, Environmental Statement, Volume 2, Appendix 14.2 Built Heritage Statement (Unpublished document). SKE53758.