Coryton Oil Refinery, Thurrock, Thurrock, 1953 (b/w photo)

Laing workers collecting and transporting sandbags to repair breaches in the river wall after flooding on the construction site of Coryton Oil Refinery On the night of Saturday 31st January through to the morning of Sunday 1st February 1953, severe floods struck parts of the UK, Scotland, Belgium and the Netherlands. The natural disaster is often referred to as the North Sea Flood of 1953. Severe flooding occurred along the east coast of the UK. The site of Coryton Oil Refinery flooded as the river wall protecting the site was breached in 14 places. An article detailing the disaster and subsequent recovery operation was published in the March 1953 edition of Laing's monthly newsletter; Team Spirit.