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Swalwell Industries in the Fifties
Opencast Coal Disposal Point
After World War II a plant was built in Swalwell for the transfer of coal from opencast mines from road to rail. A steady stream of lorries brought the coal to the plant at the junction of Millers Lane and Long Rigg where it was screened and poured into railway wagons which would then be shunted into sidings until there were enough to make up a train which would then be coupled up to a locomotive and taken away down the short branch to join the freight line at Derwenthaugh.
Coal came from opencast sites at Cut Thorn off Fellside Road near Whickham, Horsemouth near Ravensworth, Lumley Castle, Plawsworth, Maiden Law near Lanchester and Horsley in Northumberland. When the Metro centre was extended west the facility was closed and IKEA now occupy part of the site.
J W Ellis
Near the opencast coal depot was the firm of J W Ellis which also had railway sidings, with a crane loading girders onto the railway wagons that were also taken away via Derwenthaugh. The works are still in use by other firms. Formerly called Hannington's Works and engaged in engineering and scrap handling, Ellis had offices nearby and after the firm closed they were used by Metro Radio for many years.
General Concrete Products
This firm made concrete kerbs, paving stones and many other concrete products. They were situated near the Keelman's Bridge in the heart of the village and Mr C Patterson was the manager. A large moving crane moved heavy materials around the site.