Sugar Silo

The Sugar Silo, built between 1955 and 1957, is a notable structure designed by Tate and Lyle's Engineering Department and constructed by Cementation Ltd. It is made of reinforced concrete with a pre-stressed concrete floor and features a parabolic tunnel vault in a rectangular shape, consisting of 12 sections, each with 6 external ribs. The silo is loaded via conveyor belts that run along the top of the building. Both ends are also made of ribbed reinforced concrete and include windows and doors.

Inside, the silo is a single unbroken space with a central channel in the floor that contains hoppers for reclaiming sugar, which then drops onto a conveyor belt in a tunnel beneath. The smooth sides of the vault have a plimsoll line marked along them to guide operatives in loading the silo. This structure is a rare and impressive example of a reinforced concrete parabolic tunnel vaulted storage silo.