1948 – 1984: VARIOUS COMPANIES including SADLER & CO. (COKE OVENS) LTD. through to COALITE PLC – EVENWOOD RAMSHAW & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY

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.

An account to describe the carbonisation of coal to produce coke and recover the additional by-products can be found by clicking here.

The Key Dates are set out below:

1948: Woodall-Duckham Construction Company Limited built the new Randolph Coke Ovens, a battery of 15 x 17” B.W-D Becker underjet ovens, at a cost of £150,000, commissioned September 1948.

1954: an estimate was submitted for a further 11 W-D Becker underjet coke ovens for Randolph coke works (Sadler & Company Ltd).

1957 (May): The RANDOLPH COKE & CHEMICAL COMPANY was formed as a subsidiary of NORTH EASTERN TAR DISTILLERS (SADLERS) LTD.

Mr. J.H. Pybus was made general manager and director of the subsidiary company of Sadlers (Coke Ovens) Ltd.

1957 (September): No.2 Battery: 11 x 17” B.W-D underjet ovens commissioned.

1961: RANDOLPH COKE & CHEMICAL COMPANY LTD., was formed as a subsidiary of MILLOM HEMATITE ORE & IRON CO., LTD. of Cumberland, who took about 75% of Randolph’s production.

1961 (October): J.H. Pybus retired.

1968 (August): Notification came that Randolph Coke Works was to close. Nos. 1 & 2 Batteries: shut down cold.

1968 (August): The Tunnel Junction to Evenwood along the Butterknowle Branch Line, formerly part of the Haggerleases Railway, was closed.

1968 (September): the coke works closed. A receiver appointed for Millom Hematite Ore & Iron Co. Ltd.

1968 (October): the coke works was reopened by a local syndicate, HOPE, EVANS & TREMEWAN.

1968 (December): No. 2 Battery: recommissioned.

1969 (May): No. 1 Battery: recommissioned.

1970: RANDOLPH COKE & CHEMICAL COMPANY LTD operated as a subsidiary of BRITISH BENZOLE CARBONISING LTD.

Bank Bridge Securities purchased Randolph Coke & Chemical Co. which was merged with British Benzol in a new organisation known as British Benzol Carbonising Ltd. which was essentially a new holding company, registered 7 August 1970. It was then registered as a private company 17 August 1970 with 4 companies as subsidiaries – British Benzol and Coal Distillation Ltd., Randolph Coke & Chemical Co. Ltd., Evenwood Fuel Co. Ltd. and Trethomas Fuels Ltd. In 1975 and 1977, profits were £320,554 and £250,014 respectively, the best ever. These figures followed significant industrial relations issues – in 1972 and 1974, the NUM took strike action. The 1974 action was more serious and management and staff were required to safeguard the functioning of the essential equipment. Harold Proctor was made Managing Director and he served in this position at Randolph for a number of years.

1981 (March): COALITE PLC took over the works.

1984 (25 February): The closure announcement was made.

1984 (15 March): the last oven was shoved by Eric Priestley, Michael Dodds, Jack Firby and Norman Wren (see photo below).

1984 (25 May): Randolph Coke Works was closed with the loss of 134 jobs.

SITE RECLAMATION

1984: Wards (Teesside) bought the site for salvage. Demolition of the buildings took place and Randolph chimney was blown up 19 December. The site was then sold to Durham County Council for redevelopment including reclamation of the Randolph (South) pitheap.

1987 (March/April): Reclamation commenced. The site was laid out as industrial estate and landscaped. Some land, previously occupied by the Manor House was sold off for housing and the Manor Court social housing scheme was subsequently developed.

Below:

About 1971: A map to show the Randolph Coke Works