Report - Par Docks China Clay Driers Cornwall July 2010

[Jane Doe]

For many years, china clay blasted from the hills above St Austell with water canon was pumped in suspension to Par Docks where it was stored in huge concrete silos before being dried and loaded aboard ships for export around the world .
A commercial port in Cornwall is to cease trading and axe nearly 200 jobs as part of cuts carried out by a china clay company.
The cuts at Par Docks are part of plans announced earlier in the week by Imerys to make 800 workers redundant.

The docks will stop being used for ships exporting clay, and two-thirds of the site's clay dryers will close.

Imerys said it regretted the cuts, but said they were necessary to protect the future of its business.

Massive blow

The company blamed high energy prices, a weak dollar and strong overseas competition for significant business losses.

The move is a massive blow for the area, which was originally built to provide housing for clay workers at the docks.

China clay is piped to the harbour near St Austell in slurry form and then dried at the docks' dryers before being exported by boat, road or rail.

The dryers for paper-coating clay will close by the end of 2007.The last clay ship left Par in November 2008.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Nicely done, all that white must of made it quite hard to photograph. Another great report

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Lovely this place, I did have it pinned for my recent Cornwall visit but ran out of time ;-(

 

[ikkdjct]

Wowwww, I have to make trip Amazing photos.

 

[Terminal Decline]

Wowwww, I have to make trip Amazing photos.

Most of the innards have long been torn out, the filter presses in the first three photos are still intact, together with the circular concrete buell dryers.

 

[Jane Doe]

Nicely done, all that white must of made it quite hard to photograph. Another great report

Thank you Calamity Jane ... yes the powder was everywhere and when you walked it kicked in the air lol

 

[Jane Doe]

Lovely this place, I did have it pinned for my recent Cornwall visit but ran out of time ;-(

shame you ran out of time ...always next time

 

[host]

Great report. I wish we had spent more time here but ran out of time

 

[Jane Doe]

Great report. I wish we had spent more time here but ran out of time

Thank you Host ...yes these places are so big you can easily spend a good few hours in there

 

[jtza]

Very nicely done. Enjoying these reports from way back.

 

[xplorer.x]

Great stuff. I must say seeing dated reports of old industry usually never disappoint.

 

[ikkdjct]

Most of the innards have long been torn out, the filter presses in the first three photos are still intact, together with the circular concrete buell dryers.

Still it gives me an excuse to get out of the house and go for an explore.

 

[Jane Doe]

Very nicely done. Enjoying these reports from way back.

Thank you The Excursionists

 

[Jane Doe]

Great stuff. I must say seeing dated reports of old industry usually never disappoint.

Thank you xplorer x