THE history of the iconic cement works in Westbury will be preserved following an illustrated book into the town’s former major local employer, captured by Simon Knight, a commercial drone operator.
From 1962 to 2009 Westbury Cement Works produced over 700,000 tonnes of cement a year. For 37 years its iconic 400-foot-tall chimney breathed its steamy breath under the hills of the White Horse.
In 2016 demolition of the works began. Some people were glad to see the site disappear, but many were sad. It provided many jobs for the people in the town, with generations of families working there. Friendships had been forged within its working community and some had spent their entire lives working there.
At 7am on an overcast morning in September 2016, the dormant chimney fell to the ground. For many that signalled the end of the Cement Works.
Simon Knight, a qualified commercial drone operator, instructor and examiner took on the project of filming the demolition process with a slight reluctance, not feeling much creative inspiration looking at a derelict site.
Simon told White Horse News, “If you would have told me on that first day I would come away with enough stuff to write a book, I would have told you there was no chance! But now, my aim is to preserve the memory of the works, for previous workers to have something to show their grandchildren and for those who move to Westbury, who would have had no idea about the works, to learn about the town’s history.
“I’m proud I pulled it off, it’s not a massive book, it could have been bigger, but I thought I would never do it and pleased it is done. People who I have spoken to are happy to see that it’s about the workers and their families as well.
“In early February 2016, I was given permission to come to the site to take a look around and see what we could film. It’s fair to say I didn’t like it. It was cold, the buildings were grey and falling apart and the drones just weren’t working. We got a few bits of footage but I never thought I would return.
“Then I found myself there again, this time taking a look around with Nigel, the manager of the site telling me all the stories about the works – the place then became interesting.
“It just so happened that on that day, they were beginning the demolition with the precipitators, pulling one over and it just snowballed from there. We even got to see some amazing wildlife that I never imagined would be in a place like this, including falcons, foxes, deer, hares; it was really impressive.”
Simon now has undertaken another project with his business Skynamite, to create an aerial photography book of Wiltshire.
‘Westbury Cement Works: An Illustrated History’ can be purchased from Amberley Publishing on www.amberley-books.com for £14.99 and is also available in Kindle, Kobo and iBook formats.
To see Simon’s other work, visit his website www.skynamite.co.uk.
