Grandad's Cement Works

A Memory of Brading.

Mr grandfather owned the old cement works in Quay Lane (this picture shows the large building with the tall chimney, centre of frame) and his men used to make concrete roofing tiles there. In the late 1950's the chimney became dangerous and they used expolsives to demolish it. I have some very poor photos of this. His building company was so busy he closed the factory one winter and the employees were called in to work on his sites. When they opened up in the spring, all of the aluminium moulds had been stolen and the buildings fell into disrepair. I now live in a house built on the old foundations of the brickworks, and my horses have stables over the original ovens which are still underneath. I cherish the history behind my home, and share old stories with some of the former employees who still live in Brading.