Workmen rebuilding flood defences with sandbags at Coryton Oil Refinery, Coryton, Thurrock

Photograph taken 02 February 1953 © © Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection ref: jlp01/08/008085

The North Sea Flood of 1953 struck on the night of Saturday 31st January through to the morning of Sunday 1st February. A storm surge combined with high spring tides to cause severe flooding at points all along Britain's east coast. The storm breached the river wall protecting the Coryton Oil Refinery construction site on the Thames Estuary in 14 places. A team of 4,000 workers formed human chains to move sandbags into position and managed to seal 11 of the worst breaches before the next high tide. Much of the sea wall was inaccessible to machinery and the repairs had to be made by hand.

Location

Thurrock Coryton

Period

1950s (1950 - 1959)

Themes

This mill was originally known as Jumble Hole Mill. It was first mentioned in 1788. Between 1815 and 1826 it was owned by Christopher Rawden who owned several mills in the locality. On 11th August 1899 the mill was destroyed by fire. This photograph could have been taken after the fire. The mill was altered and extended during the 19th and 20th century. The 1947 Yorkshire textile Industry directory has an entry for Jumble Hole Mill:
'Cocker and Co (1929) Ltd. (bleaching, dyeing and finishing of blacks and colours; rayons; crepes; cashmeres; brocades; muslins)
Cockers closed in the 1950s, but the mill was later used for silk dyeing.

Workmen rebuilding flood defences with sandbags at Coryton Oil Refinery, Coryton, Thurrock

Location

Period

Themes

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