In the 1984–85 Miners' Strike, National Union of Mineworkers members picketed the coking plant to prevent employees and coal from entering or products from leaving.

On 18 June 1984, three and a half months into the strike, a large number of South Yorkshire Police officers, including mounted units, were deployed against the pickets.

BCO removed some 12 million tonnes of spoil, extracted coal from it, and also realigned almost 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) of the River Rother.

In 2008, Harworth Estates submitted a planning application to redevelop 300 acres (120 ha) as the Waverley community, which will include 4,000 homes and some commercial development.

222 acres (90 ha) is being restored as green space including recreation areas, parks, woods, three lakes and a reservoir.