Gross Sherwood Heals Factory, Barking, c.1910
Contact
Linda Rhodes
Local Studies Librarian
Local Studies Centre
Valence House Museum
Becontree Avenue
Dagenham
RM8 3HT
Tel: 020 8270 6896
Fax: 020 8270 6897
Email: localstudies@lbbd.gov.uk|
|
In early Victorian times new laws on pollution in Middlesex forced many factory owners to move to sites in nearby counties. In 1857 an artificial fertilizer and sulphuric acid factory was built at Creekmouth in Barking, on the shores of the Thames.
As the fishing industry in Barking collapsed, new industries moved into the area. In 1866 the largest jute works in the world opened, employing women and children to make mail sacks.
River transport by barges along the River Roding was unusually good. By 1900 Barking was proud to be attracting small factories to its riverside sites.
Heavy industry and chemical plants opened and later oil refineries and storage buildings for hazardous waste.
Pollution from some factories left legacies in the town for years. An asbestos factory built in 1913 eventually gave Barking one of the highest death rates in the country from asbestosis.
Other factories, such as the Whites lemonade factory were models of good employee relations and sources of great pride.
Across in Dagenham development was far slower. In 1887 a barge builder called Samuel Williams built a new deep-water dock on the Thames.
His dock was slow to attract new business until 1921 when it was stimulated by the building of the Becontree Estate. The future was assured in 1929 when the Ford Motor Company began to build there the largest motor car factory in the world.
Barges regularly travelled between London and Barking Town Quay during the 19th century. Barking was a market gardening area and the barges from London carried night soil, slaughterhouse waste and dust from the dust yards as fertilizers. In return they took vegetables to the London markets.
Gross Sherwood Heals Factory, Barking, c.1910
Linda Rhodes
Local Studies Librarian
Local Studies Centre
Valence House Museum
Becontree Avenue
Dagenham
RM8 3HT
Tel: 020 8270 6896
Fax: 020 8270 6897
Email: localstudies@lbbd.gov.uk|
|
Home|
Beckton Gasworks, 1933
Help|
© 2008 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North, Dagenham, RM10 7BN
Telephone: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: enquiries@lbbd.gov.uk|
Telephone: 020 8594 8356
Fax: 020 8227 3470