The Key Dates are set out below:

1909: The North Bitchburn Coal Company Limited developed the works.

1920, the company was acquired by Pease and Partners Ltd. and it appears that NBCCL operated as a subsidiary of Pease and Partners Ltd.

A period of industrial unrest followed for much of the 1920’s, culminating in strikes of 1921 and 1926, which was followed by the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The Great Depression lasted from 1929 to 1939. Randolph Colliery, including the coke works was closed for 18 months, during 1927 and 1928, reopening in 1929.

1932, Pease and Partners Ltd refused to fund further losses and NBCCL was placed in the hands of the receiver. Randolph was closed again.

1933: RANDOLPH COAL COMPANY LIMITED

A local concern, the Summerson brothers from Cockfield, Maurice V, Summerson and William Summerson took over Randolph (Evenwood) and Gordon House (Cockfield) under the trade name of the Randolph Coal Company Limited with its registered office at Randolph Colliery.

At this time, Mr. John Harold Pybus was given charge of the Randolph coke works.

SADLER & CO, (COKE OVENS) LTD. from Teesside bought the coke works but the exact date is not known. More research is required.

1947: 1 January: NATIONALISATION

The collieries, including Randolph and Gordon House, were vested in the National Coal Board, Northern Division, No.4 Area and taken into public control.  Randolph coke works was not nationalised. 

Below: 1921, a map to show the position of the 2nd coke works.

Below: The new bye product ovens under construction and the new coal loading building to the right

Below: Some men of the construction team

Below: The new coal loading building to serve the bye product coke ovens (the coal bunker)

Below: a view of the colliery rail yard with the new coal bunker to the right, the new bye product ovens are out of shot.

Below: A view from the pit yard

Below: 1920’s? A group of Randolph coke men

Back Row: N. LOWSON; F.BENNETT; J.TALLENTIRE; T. BELL; A, DUNN; ? HENDERSON; M. WHITTON; UNKNOWN; UNKNOWN

Front Row: G. CLENNELL; J. LACY; “DUMP” GREEN; H. FLOUNDERS; ? SIDDLE; B. CROOKS; K. LAMB; J. STOBBS; J. MUSGRAVE; ? BROWN

Below: Another group

Below: An unusual photo showing Randolph Coke Works from the fields to the east

Below: Is this the old coke works? The suggested date was 1948, in which case it would be the “new” works. Standing is Bob Howe and in front, Cecil Hall, Norman Lowson, Eric Neasham and Norman Henning.

Below: Cecil Hall

Below: Spraying the coke with water

1944 Pay Slip: