I moved into the Erith area in 1997 and have recently started work at
Birch House off Birch walk in Erith.

My other half, who is very much into narrow gauge railways, tells me
that that the industrial unit off Birch Walk is on part of the site of
the former Parishes Loam Quarry which had a 4 foot gauge system.
However, the documentation we have is very limited and I wonder if
anyone has any photos, maps and literature on Parishes Loam Pit.

Hazel Brewer

"David Bradley" wrote in message
...
I moved into the Erith area in 1997 and have recently started work at
Birch House off Birch walk in Erith.

My other half, who is very much into narrow gauge railways, tells me
that that the industrial unit off Birch Walk is on part of the site of
the former Parishes Loam Quarry which had a 4 foot gauge system.
However, the documentation we have is very limited and I wonder if
anyone has any photos, maps and literature on Parishes Loam Pit.

Hazel Brewer

Try a Google on 'PARISH'S LOAM' - there's a scarce 1959 book on the system,
which closed in 1957.

Chris Cook
Beckenham, Kent

In message , David Bradley
writes

I moved into the Erith area in 1997 and have recently started work at
Birch House off Birch walk in Erith.

My other half, who is very much into narrow gauge railways, tells me
that that the industrial unit off Birch Walk is on part of the site of
the former Parishes Loam Quarry which had a 4 foot gauge system.

Correct. I grew up less than a mile from the quarry in the 50s and 60s.

However, the documentation we have is very limited and I wonder if
anyone has any photos, maps and literature on Parishes Loam Pit.

The only two photos I recall are in Industrial Railways of the South
East, produced by The Chalk Pits Museum (Middleton Press):

http://www.stanleyfish.com/acatalog/...strial_65.html

Years ago Erith had a good reference library and small museum in Walnut
Tree Road that was strong on local industrial archeology - it looks as
though it is still there, in which case it would probably be your best
bet for something this specialised.

--
Paul Terry