Photograph of Bearpark coke works, formerly owned by Bearpark Coal and Coke Company.
The 80 Simon-Carves horizontal flued ovens replaced the original battery of Simon-Carves ovens built in 1884, prior to which coke had been produced in beehive ovens at Bearpark.
The coke was discharged through a Darby quencher onto a sloping bench and taken by a plate conveyor to coke screens for the production of foundry and sized coal.
In common with the older coking plants in West Durham, the Bearpark ovens were 20 1/2 inches wide, built in semi-silica and operated for a long coking time (48 hours). They produced from the West Durham prime coking coals a high grade foundry coke, of large size and dense texture with a low sulphur content. The wagons were hand dressed before being despatched. By products produced were tar, sulphate of ammonia and benzole. waste heat from the ovens was used to raise steam in the coke works boilers and the surplus gas (purified) was used in gas engine driven generators at an associated power station.
Production / content date: c. 1947
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