Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by AJG on 1/4/2025, 5:55 pm

Ian Turnbull posted this great photo to the Pictorial Hebburn Facebook group. Thought people on this forum would like to see it.

I went to St. Joseph's at this time and we used to run "round the Cokies" for our cross-country in PE. Our white PE kits would be black by the time we got back to school!

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by Peter on 1/4/2025, 7:00 pm, in reply to "Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

Very good photo which also brings back memories of running around it in PE lessons with either Mr Woodcock or Mr Felton between 1985 and 1990. I think the rail link had gone by around 1986.

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by AJG on 1/4/2025, 7:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

I can remember sometimes having to wait for the trains carrying coal (the "bowsers"?) to go by so that we could continue with our run. I attended St. Joseph's 1979 - 1986.

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by Norman Dunn on 1/4/2025, 7:01 pm, in reply to "Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

When we were kids in the 1950s there was a deep pit shaft where I've put the 'X' on the photo.
It was surrounded by a wall, which didnt stop us climbing over. I remember thick timbers covering the shaft. In the records I;ve found since it was 'Monkton Colliery' but coal was never drawn from it. I dont know any more about it unfortunately.

Capture

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by AJG on 1/4/2025, 7:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

Norman, in Ian's post on Facebook, he says "Look at Hexham field. There used to be a Vent Shaft there in the early 60s". Is this the same one that you have marked?

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by Norman on 1/4/2025, 8:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

Hi AJG.
That must be what Ian called it.
I worked at Wardley Colliery early 1960s so know how it works.Fresh air for all the mines went underground via a shaft simply called the Downcast shaft.After the air circulated miles underground it was expelled via another shaft simply called the Upcast shaft.
Every mine had at least two shafts.
The workers accessed the mine via the Downcast shaft.
Monkton only had that one Shaft but Ive no idea why it was created and then closed.

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by Joseph on 1/4/2025, 9:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

Only guessing,but with it been so close to wardley must have been an early upcast for same, then upcast at Folingsby used, (only a guess).

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by Steve in Australia on 2/4/2025, 12:54 am, in reply to "Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

Norman, you worked at Wardley......did you by any chance know my Uncle ""Owen Leadbeater"" ??

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by Norman Dunn on 2/4/2025, 9:02 am, in reply to "Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

Good morning Steve in Australia,
Sorry but I cant remember your uncle.
I could have met him down the pit without knowing his surname.

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by For norman on 1/4/2025, 10:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

Norman I remember the heavy timbers over that shaft but the last time I saw it there was no wall left and I can't remember any talk of it being filled in.

Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981

Posted by Norman on 2/4/2025, 9:08 am, in reply to "Re: Monkton Coke Works in 1981"

They built a Housing Estate called 'The Maples' ontop of that land. They probably put a grassy area where the Pit Shaft was. It would definitely have been capped off using a better method than they used in the early 1900s.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.