From the Thames estuary depths come shiploads of Greenwich Light East. These deposits arrive weekly at CEMEX Angerstein Aggregates Wharf. Each vessel brings about 7500 tonnes of sand and gravel.
Hello everyone. Welcome to the CEMEX Angerstein Aggregates Wharf. It is a key marine aggregates facility. This wharf plays a crucial role in London’s construction industry.
CEMEX Angerstein Aggregates Wharf has a rich history. John Julius Angerstein owned the land. He was a businessman with interests in the East and West Indies. His art collection became the National Gallery’s foundation.
The wharf has evolved over the years. Originally established in 1991 by St. Albans Sand & Gravel, it produced gravels and sharp sand. A fire in 2004 caused significant damage. CEMEX invested £2 million to rebuild the plant. The new plant is simpler. It has a nominal output capacity of 400 tonnes per hour.
Several industries have been associated with this site. Flowers and Everett dredged here. Steel firms Redpath Dorman Long and Greenwich Metal Works also operated here. United Glass Bottle Manufacturers had a large factory here too.
The wharf has a railway history. A one-mile line connected it to the Blackheath to Charlton line. The South Eastern Railway leased the branch. It later bought it outright.
Imagine the scene in the 1970s. Large stone boulders arrived from Caldon Low. They were used for the Thames Barrier construction.
Today CEMEX Angerstein Aggregates Wharf primarily handles sea-dredged aggregates. The materials are unloaded at a rate of 2000 tonnes per hour. They are deposited in a reception hopper. The material is then conveyed to a stockpile.
The wharf processes materials from different areas. Greenwich Light East comprises gravel and coarser sand. North and South Lowestoft include gravel and finer sand. A blend of these materials feeds the processing plant.
The processing plant uses screens and crushers. These machines separate and refine the aggregates. The plant produces concrete sand, 10mm, and 20mm materials. A water treatment plant clarifies and recycles process water.
The wharf can deliver 1400000 tonnes of clean sand and gravel annually. Most of this goes to CEMEX’s concrete plants. These plants are in Stepney, Canning Town, and other locations. A barge-loading system supplies sand to the Fulham concrete plant.
The Thames Path passes by Angerstein Wharf. Conveyors pass over it. Dust from cement and sand can be present.
CEMEX plans to expand sales to the open market. The company aims to capitalize on developments in London. Angerstein Wharf is essential to CEMEX’s operations. It is a vital link in the construction supply chain. The site’s strategic location allows efficient distribution.
This is a place of constant activity. Dredgers arrive. Materials are processed. Trucks transport aggregates. All this happens to support London’s growth. CEMEX Angerstein Aggregates Wharf is more than just a wharf. It is a crucial part of London’s infrastructure.