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'Why were bird droppings and animal blood used in Silvertown?'

Answer:

To make artificial fertilisers for agriculture.

• Guano, bird droppings rich in phosphorus and calcium, was imported by the Olendorff Peruvian (later, the Anglo-Continental) Guano Company.
• The Odams Chemical Manure Company made fertiliser out of the blood of cattle slaughtered after arriving at the neighbouring Victoria Dock.