Burwell Cement works

History of Burwell cement works

6 July 1906

A labourer at Burwell cement factory was feeding clunch into the crusher; this consists of two large iron rollers studded with teeth and covered with a steel plate with a hole into which the lumps of clunch are shovelled. His foot went into the hole and was caught by the cogs which drew his leg between the rollers and reduced it to pulp up to the knee. It could not be extricated until the plate had been smashed. He never lost consciousness all the while. 06 07 06. Credit: Mike Petty, Burwell Scrapbook 1897 to 1990, reference 06 07 06.

28 November 1907 — index entry

Burwell Cement Works gutted by fire – 07 11 28. Credit: Mike Petty, Burwell Scrapbook 1897 to 1990, reference 07 11 28.

28 October 1929

The well-known cement works of Messrs R. Stephenson & Son between Burwell and Fordham, now closed, have been purchased by the Associated Cement-makers Companies, a powerful combine owning many cement factories. For a long time it has been felt in Burwell that the only hope of carrying on the factory was to merge it in a combine. During the war the factory did very well indeed because the Government wanted so much cement that every factory was employed. Today orders are far from plentiful. As one of a large combine the Burwell factory may get its share, and the works may give considerable employment. Credit: Mike Petty, Burwell Scrapbook 1897 to 1990, 1929 10 28.