	Derwenthaugh Coking Plant	Index	Derwenthaugh Coking Plant

Derwenthaugh Coking Plant

Location:	Blaydon-on-Tyne 4 miles [7 km] WSW of Newcastle
Map Ref:	(Sheet 88) NZ192615, 54° 56' 52" N, 1° 42' 1" W
Opened:
Closed:
Output:	1961 - Coke. (380,000 tons)
	1964 - Coke. (244,000 tons)
	1965 - Coke.
	1972 - Coke.
	1979 - Coke.
	1980 - Coke.
	1981 - Coke.
	1982 - Coke.
	1983 - Coke.
Employment:	1961 - 348
	1964 - 329

Description

The Derwenthaugh plant consists of 65 Simon-Carves underjet silica ovens with a benzole refinery and power station, carbonising 350,000 tons of coal per annum when operating at a coking time of 27½ hours.

About 50% of the coal carbonized is obtained from the Derwenthaugh washery and 25% each from the Morrisom and Handen Hold washeries. Extra coal teeming and mixing facilities including wagon vibrators, have been provided as there are no blending bunkers. Crushed coke breeze is added to improve coke quality.

The ovens have been rebuilt as follows :—

Battery No.	1	2	3	4
No. of ovens	10	28	27	20
Built	1930	1930	1930	1936
Rebuilt	1944	1942	1941	1953
Rebuilt	1960	1960	1958	Closed 1964

The plant was changed over from furnace to foundry coke in 1960. There is a landsale depot and coal and coke stocking and reclaiming facilities for 150,000 tons on two sites, one served by a ropeway and the other by mobile handling equipment.

7 million cubic feet of unpurified gas are supplied daily to the Northern Gas Board. Part of the gas (up to 1½ million cubic feet per day) can be sent to the Monkton coking plant for purification, the remainder being purified at the Gas Board’s Redheugh Works.

Cooling water is obtained from the River Derwent and effluents are absorbed on the works, as far as possible, and the surplus after settling are discharged into the river.

Coking Plants, 1964

Disasters (5 or more killed)

None found.

Names of those killed at this colliery

Please note that this collection of names is by no means complete!

						Maley, John, 02 Sep 1857, aged 30, Cinder Drawer, run over by waggons whilst charging his ovens

						1 name found

If you know of any fatalities missing from the above list then please contact us with the details and we will add them to our database.

Those names marked with , have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the symbol next to the name to see the web page.

Collieries and Pits within 5 miles (8km)

a simulated map showing the immediate vicinity of Derwenthaugh Coking Plant

list of collieries/pits etc. near to Derwenthaugh Coking Plant

Gallery Images:

Credits

Sources:

1965 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
1972 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
1979 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
1980 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
1981 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
1982 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
1983 Guide to the Coalfields published by the Colliery Guardian
NCB - Coal Products Division, Northern Region: Details of Coking and Briquetting Plants, June 1964
NCB - Durham Division: Details of Coking and Ancillary Plants, January 1961

Pictures:

Picture from NCB Information Booklet