Image ID: 18126

General View of Gypsum Mine

British Gypsum
Kingston on Soar
England

This is a general view of Kingston Gypsum Mine which was demolished in 1985. The powder magazine (a small brick building where they kept explosives) was behind the Offices to the rear of the photographers viewpoint. The Kingston Gypsum Company was founded by Henry, 2nd Lord Belper in 1880 when the first shaft was sunk on this site. It is now occupied by Hardstaff's Haulage Company. Gypsum is a naturally occurring rock which, when ground to a powder and heated, loses most of its moisture. When mixed with water it forms a paste or 'slurry' which sets solid. This simple discovery has made gypsum one of the most useful and versatile building materials and forms the basis of a huge industry producing a wide range of building and medical products. In the Midlands there is a wide belt of gypsum stretching from Uttoxeter to Newark, which has been mined since Roman times. This is a view of the powder magazines at Kingston on Soar, looking South West from near the road.

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Keywordsgypsumplasterfactoryindustrypowdermagazinesbarnbritishworks

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