Union Cable Company Works, Dagenham Dock, Essex

UNION CABLE COMPANY’S WORKS, DAGENHAM DOCK, ESSEX - This building, to be occupied by the Union Cable Company of London, will be completed in the course of a few weeks. It is being erected by Messrs. Samuel Williams and Sons upon their own estate. The construction is entirely of reinforced concrete, with the exception of the steel and timber roof to the machinery section. The floor of the works is raised some 4 feet above the general ground level, the beams under which are worked into and made as part of the piles. The piles are built on the “Williams’’ patented system, and stanchions on them are carried up continuously to the roof-springing, forming piers to the main walls.

 In the four-storey office block the same construction obtains. As a covering wall to works and office buildings, concrete blocks, V-jointed and hollow, are used. Down the side of the works, throughout the whole length, runs a reinforced concrete platform at the same level as the works floor, to facilitate the loading and unloading from railway waggons of materials or full electric cable drums. The roof over the works portion is of 2.5 in. planking covered with Ruberoid. The roof over the office building is flat and forms a water tank. The works are supplied with electric current from Messrs. Samuel Walliams and Sons’ generating station near the dock, and with pure water from artesian wells on the estate. A system of sprinklers and hydrants is being installed. The concrete floor of the works and ground floor of the office building is covered with 3 in. deal block paving. The upper floors of the office building are finished with Doloment flooring on the concrete base. The office block contains four floors, each floor covering an area of 5,200 sq. ft. The light machinery portion of the works covers 9,550 sq. ft., and the main machinery section 47,500 sq. ft. The total floor area covered is 77,850 sq. ft.

A view and plan of the building are given below: In the distance can be seen the Dreadnought “Thunderer,’”’ which is being completed on the river alongside the piers of Messrs. Samuel. Williams and Sons. The names of the various contractors are here indicated: All the piling, reinforced concreting, block walling and roof timbering are being done by Messrs Samuel Williams and Sons themselves; deal block flooring by Hollis Bros; steel casements throughout in the works by Hayward Bros. and Eckstein; windows in office block by W. H. Witham; steelwork by Gilbert Heathcote and Co., Manchester; glazing by John Hall and Sons and Mellowes and Co.; light partition work by Muribloc, Ltd.; iron doors throughout by Milner’s; lift by Waygoods; heating throughout by Jas. Boyd and Sons. The architects for the building are Messrs. Charles Heathcote and Sons, of London and Manchester. [Architects and Builders Journal 29 November 1911 page 572 with bird’s eye view]