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Another heritage industrial site

Portland Cement Works

At the nearby town of Portland there is another major heritage industrial site, this time a cement works. Built in 1890 it closed down in 1991. As it is a large site situated right in the centre of the town, I imagine the shutdown must have had a big impact on this small (population 2000) community.

I'm going to leave it to your imagination as the entire site is fenced off making it rather difficult to get good photos even though there are many buildings including workshops, offices, homes and the factory itself.

That's it for industry for now. But if you are interested in another significant industrial ruin, over at Blue Mountains Journal we've just finished visiting the Shale Oil refinery ruin at Newnes -- well worth the trip.
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Comments

  1. Megan CoyleApril 25, 2010 at 12:17 AM

    Great perspective for this one - you captured the rusty, locked gate so well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. myletterstoemilyApril 25, 2010 at 1:43 AM

    i know most people tend to dislike
    industry, but it sadden me to think
    of the families who lost jobs at
    this site.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MartinaApril 25, 2010 at 5:48 AM

    ... there is something about chains and locks .. isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  4. MartinaApril 25, 2010 at 5:51 AM

    Ah, forgot to say: we have Portland Cement Works in Mainz, too, ;-).

    ReplyDelete
  5. Joan ElizabethApril 25, 2010 at 9:37 AM

    Martina, that sent me researching. It seems that Portland is a type of cement and the town was likely named after it as the cement making kilns preceded the town.

    Lea, I agree but fortunately the town continues to survive because of a nearby power station at Mt Piper and the division of local land into smaller 'hobby farms' so it has new life.

    Yes there is something about chains and locks ... in this case annoyed me because I want to go take photos. I felt this image captured the sadness of the site.

    I think I might go back to do a full series on the town one day.

    ReplyDelete

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