Expanded Timber Processing at the Burt, Boulton and Hayward Works at Prince Regents Wharf (now Thames Barrier Park) circa 1870

The picture shows workers, in the foreground, breaking up coal tar and loading it into crates from where it was lifted by crane for melting and processing into creosote. In the distance are steel cylinders into which were loaded timber sleepers and poles. Once sealed air was pumped out of the cylinder to create a vacuum before heated creosote oil was pumped in to be absorbed into the pores of the timber. Raw materials and processed timbers were transported by tramways across the wharf and also to and from export vessels in the adjacent dock.


Historical research, texts and images kindly provided by local historian Mary Mills

©Thames Barrier Park, UK 2003