Beeding Cement Works

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 18 Oct 2008

Viewed across the Adur flood plain from Coombes. A pit is marked on Yeakell & Gardner's 1783 map near to the river to enable transport and there were lime kilns operating by the early 19th century. The modern pit itself was built up during the late 19th/early 20th century benefiting from the building of the Shoreham-Christ's Hospital railway. It continued in operation until the 1980s when it was closed down since then there is a question of what to do with the site. The main problem appears to be one of asbestos in the buildings and the clear up operation required to remove the old buildings is an economic stumbling point with every planning application put in, as recently as September this year an application for a waste disposal facility was turned down and resited elsewhere. The other problem is the unit being within the bounds of the forthcoming South Downs National Park with many supporters of that wishing for the land to return to natural use. However, the chimney remains a focal point for this section of the Adur Valley and when driving past the derelict buildings after midnight you get the feeling you've stumbled upon a set for a Scooby Doo story.

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