Hawthorn Coke Works

[hudson501]

Where was this coke plant located? Hawthorn, California? Hawthorn, Illinois? Hawthorn, Wisconsin? Nobody seems to know!!

[COALMONK5]

@hudson501 Hawthorn was in the North East of England, United Kingdom.

[hudson501]

Thanks for the clarification. By the way, here in the "states" we just had a new set of coke ovens begin operation in Granite City, IL. It looks far different than what you see here in this video.

[COALMONK5]

@hudson501 Glad to hear there's still life in the American coking industry. England has very few plants left, Hawthorn was built in 1958 and closed in 1986 and had very little updated inbetween but still produced the best quality domestic and industrial coke of the day.

[hudson501]

Coalmonk5 It's interesting that you mention the Hawthorn plant shutting down in 1986. There was a coke works that opened up on Chicago's south side in that same year of '86. It shut down about seven years ago and has been idle since. Another set of Coke ovens also shut down in Indianapolis, IN in July, 2007. So, two steps back and one step forward regarding the coke industry here in the states!

[COALMONK5]

Backward steps all the way in U.K. I'm afraid. There hasn't been a new plant built since the late 60s. Only 1 private plant remains and maybe 5 or 6 plants connected to the steel industry, and 2 of these are due to close. Sad really.

[SunderlandFlyingBoat]

I served my time here as an electrician.I worked with some of the finest men I will ever know.Many of them will be gone now.We laughed a lot and sometimes cried.RIP Phil.

[COALMONK5]

Hmmmm. Some confusion here! Your profile has you born in 1984 and Hawthorn closed in 1986 maybe you have the wrong plant.

[SunderlandFlyingBoat]

Dick Groves,Stan ,Priestman,Bert Lakin,Jim Smith,Harry Strugglin,Freddie Johnson,Billy Twigg,Mary Porkpie,Atomic Fewster,Tommy Morley.Matty Slack,Jacky Worthy and the great Alan Mallaby to name but a few.I think I left before you started.Profile must be wrong.

[COALMONK5]

Yes you were there. A few of of those names were already gone by the time I started in 1981. When did you leave? If you knew Bill Twigg you probably knew my grandfather Geordie Hall blacksmiths mate. My father was B shift cokecar man. RIP Phil???? was that the young sparky killed on the guide?

[fredmentor]

I hope it still work.. !

Nice pictures!

[balticdiver]

I helped to overhaul the Yellow Hunslet 0-4-0 loco that features briefly in the background when it was tranferred to the Bowes Railway. It was a filthy job but I loved it. I visited the Hawthrorn Combine many times and it still saddens me to think of the destruction of the coal and coke industry by the Tory half wits.

[COALMONK5]

Thats interesting, my father drove that loco many times.What was it used for at Bowes, or is it part of the museum? We thought it was scrap. The tory party have a lot to answer for and I think were all starting to pay the price for the loss of an alternative fuel to gas.

[SteffanLlwyd]

Yep. They were f***wits. The imported coal we use instead costs a scary amount in terms of deaths and injuries among Chinese miners. But if nobody thinks about this when they plug anything into the mains.... Unfortunately Thatcher won. Welcome to her World. This is the way she wanted it.

[tj1elk]

Very cool video - I used to work at a Coke Plant in Follansbee, WV many years ago and some of the batteries were shut down.

[COALMONK5]

Thanks mate, unfortunately its a sign of the times.There is only 1 plant left in the U.K. producing domestic coke.

[MrCravat]

Amazing --My brother used to work at this Hawthorn Coke Plant and I have been through Follansbee many times on the way down to Wheeling and visiting friends in Wellsburgh.i always remember the Anchor Inn as a landmark.

I did not know there is /was a coke plant there but know heavy industry is all over that area..especially below Beech Bottom where my late girl friend lived

[tj1elk]

I have not been in Follansbee for several years but I believe they have had coke batteries there since the early 1900's and I am pretty sure they still have some operating, but there were also some batteries closed back in the early 1970's I believe. The Coke Plant is right along Route 2 just north of Follansbee.

[insideoutgmltd]

Nantgarw closed in November 1986.

Ironicly, Because cwm coke plant wasnt looked after as well as Nantgarw, They had a part rebuild during the seventies. When there was two plants in close proximity & one had to shut.They picked the newest batteries to stay.

Always had the love hate relationship with Cwm.

I wouldnt transfer as a consiquence & picked the Phurnacite plant. Which also shut in 1990.

however its very sad to see Cwm shut as I had a lot of good friends working there.

All the best.

[COALMONK5]

We had the same relationship with Fishburn.Their plant was falling apart and the closure of Fishburn was announced just before the strike.Hawthorn was a much better plant, but because we were picketed out for the duration of the strike and Fishburn continued to work Hawthorn was closed instead.However because of its poor state Fishburn itself was closed in 1986 and all Sunbrite production was moved to Monkton. All the best mate.

[insideoutgmltd]

How sad. I worked at Nantgarw coke works.

I know how gutted i was.

It was ok for most of the mines to mothball

But when the ovens cooled too much it was ireversable. Thanks for the post.

[COALMONK5]

Thanks for the comment.When did Nantgarw close ? Have you seen the CWMCOKE06 video on You Tube? very sad.