Orgreave is a small village located in South Yorkshire, England. The village is known for its coal mining history and the infamous Orgreave coking plant. The coking plant was built in the early 1960s and was one of the largest in Europe. It was responsible for producing coke, a fuel used in the steel-making process. The plant was closed in 1990, and the site was later redeveloped into a business park.
However, Orgreave is perhaps best known for the violent clashes that occurred between striking miners and police officers in 1984. The Battle of Orgreave, as it is now known, was a pivotal moment in the miners' strike of 1984-85. On June 18, 1984, thousands of miners gathered at Orgreave to picket the coking plant. The police were also present, and tensions quickly escalated. The police charged at the miners on horseback, and a violent clash ensued. Many miners were injured, and dozens were arrested. The events at Orgreave have been the subject of much controversy, with allegations of police brutality and collusion.
Today, Orgreave is a quiet village, and the scars of the Battle of Orgreave have largely healed. However, the events of 1984 continue to be remembered and debated. In recent years, there have been calls for a public inquiry into the events at Orgreave, with many arguing that the truth about what happened that day has yet to be fully revealed. Despite this, Orgreave remains an important part of South Yorkshire's history, and a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices of the miners who fought for their rights and livelihoods.