About Blackwater Aggregates | History & Operations
Blackwater Aggregates, and operations in Bradwell Quarry
Established in 2001, Blackwater Aggregates is an independent joint venture company that operates Bradwell Quarry, one of the largest sand and gravel quarries in the UK. Located in Bradwell, near Braintree, Essex, our quarry is part of the historical site of the old Second World War airfield at Rivenhall. With a new processing plant installed at the commencement of our operations, the site has been producing up to one million tonnes per year of washed and graded sand and gravel.
COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCTION FACILITIES
In addition to sand and gravel, our site hosts a bagging plant, offering a choice of plastic and bulk bags of various materials. We also proudly work alongside CEMEX UK, which operates a ready-mixed concrete plant and a dry silo mortar plant (DSM) on our premises.
GRS Building products operate a bagging plant on site. You can contact GRS Building Products on 0845 250 1793 or email sales@grsbagging.co.uk
These facilities ensure we can offer a wide range of products, from loose and bagged aggregates to ready-mixed concrete suitable for both public and trade customers.
Geological Significance
The Bradwell Quarry taps into the Colchester Formation, previously known as the Kesgrave Sand and Gravel Formation. This significant deposit, laid down between 117,000 and 781,000 years ago during the Pleistocene period, is a treasure trove of fluvial, lacustrine, and organic materials from the pre-diversionary River Thames. It includes materials such as quartz from the Triassic and Carboniferous periods and felsic volcanic rocks from northern Wales, showcasing a rich geological heritage.
Geological Significance
The Bradwell Quarry taps into the Colchester Formation, previously known as the Kesgrave Sand and Gravel Formation. This significant deposit, laid down between 117,000 and 781,000 years ago during the Pleistocene period, is a treasure trove of fluvial, lacustrine, and organic materials from the pre-diversionary River Thames. It includes materials such as quartz from the Triassic and Carboniferous periods and felsic volcanic rocks from northern Wales, showcasing a rich geological heritage.
Our Journey
The story of Bradwell Quarry began around 1950 when initially opened by the Hunnable family. After changing hands through several notable quarrying companies, including ARC and Hanson, the site was acquired by Blackwater Aggregates in 2000, heralding a new era of enhanced production and environmental stewardship.
Historic Rivenhall Airfield
Our site encompasses the historic Rivenhall Airfield, also known as Royal Air Force Station Rivenhall or USAAF Station AAF-168, which saw construction begin in 1943 by Bovis Limited and became operational in January 1944. The airfield was active during the war until 1946 and later served various post-war functions, including housing for Polish servicemen and as a testing site for Marconi Radar. Today, remnants of its past, such as the Marconi Radar testing mast and some airfield buildings, are still visible on the site.
