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Six Bells Lido.
In the early 1930’s the people of Six Bells, Abertillery banded together and formed a baths committee with the intention to have a lido, an open-air baths built in the village. The committee contacted various influential people in the area for backing and Mr A. Lewis a landowner gave the land at Cwm Llwydrew, he also gave a donation towards the construction of a lido. Mr A. Gordon Jones the council surveyor offered his professional assistance and Mr George Daggar the Member of Parliament also assisted in the scheme.
The Construction of the Lido.
The building of the Six Bells Lido was a progressive project with the work being carried out over a period of time. There was no particular start time or end date, it was constructed and being used before any official opening ceremony with just a few galas and swimming exhibitions to mark its completion.
On Thursday 21st of July 1932, the promoters of the proposed baths with Mr George Daggar M.P. at Six Bells, met with the council sub-committee, along with Messrs Hillier and Beynon and the surveyor. The council stated they were not in any way associated with the scheme and it was to be constructed upon private ground and with donations. The council were assured by the baths committee that the pool would be emptied at the end of September each year and refilled in the spring of each year, provisions to empty the pool in the event of a storm in the summer months if required. The ground around the pool must also be fenced off for safety reasons, at the expense of the promoters.
On Thursday 28th of July 1932, the promoters of the scheme held a meeting in the Hafodvan Reading Room, Six Bells. Mr George Daggar M.P. was elected President; Mr W. H. Price (Chairman); Mr C. H. Price (Treasurer) and Mr S. Holland (Secretary): The ground was excavated by the local unemployed with all work done on a voluntary basis, the tools and cement was provided free of charge by local contractors. A few other people came forward to give their support in the scheme – Mr W. H. Leigh (M.E., Manager of the Tillery Collieries) and Supt. Roynon Baker (Deputy Chief Constable of Monmouthshire).
On Wednesday evening 31st of August 1932, the baths committee organised an open-air concert to raise funds for the building of the lido on a field owned by Mr Rosser adjoining the lido ground under construction. A crowd of 600 attended and the following artistes gave their services free – Mr Ivor Rees; Mr William Martin; Ted Price; Mr Fred Warren (Baritone); Mr Harold Morris (Tenor); Mr Ivor Screen (Baritone); Mr S. Allen (Elocutionist); Mr Harry Cook (Violinist); Mr Jack Dando (Pianist); Mr J. Lewarne (Piano-Accordion); Mr Albert Bolt (Tenor); Mr George Smith (Clappers); Mr Robert Harding (Baritone): The committee was also present – Mr George Daggar M.P.; Mr W. H. Price (Chairman); Mr C. H. Price (Treasurer) and Mr S. Holland (Secretary): Mr George Radford; Mr G. Evans; Mr F. Watkins; Mr W. Thomas and Mr T. Davies: Mr E. Cook of Craig Row, Six Bells kindly loaned his piano for the occasion. The broadcast van of the Electrical and Radio Company, Carmel Street, Abertillery was also in attendance. On the night Mr Daggar said the work on the baths was slowing as of the lack of funds, he appealed for further financial aid and all donations be sent to Mr S. Holland the secretary at 4 New High Street, Six Bells.
On Monday evening 18th of September 1932, the baths committee organised another open-air concert to raise funds for the building of the lido where 400 people attended and the following artistes performed free of charge – Mr Jack Dando (Pianist); Mr Robert Harding (Baritone); Mr Fred Warren (Baritone); Mr J. Jones (Baritone); Mr J. Tidaldi (Piano-Accordion); Mr B. Snellgrove (Comedian); Mr S. Cummings (Mandolin); Mr G. Box (Pianist); Master Bernard O’Riley (Comic Singer) and Mr B. Edwards (Elocutionist): Thanks were given to the local churches for the help in providing the many chairs used for the concerts.
On Wednesday 26th of October 1932, the baths committee organised another concert, this time at the Six Bells Methodist Church to raise funds for the building of the lido where 300 people attended Mr J. Hillier presided and the following artistes performed free of charge – Mr Jack Dando; Master Aneurin Morgan; Miss May Holland; Mr George Rideout; Mr George Box; Mr James Parfitt; Masters David Lewis and Morris David and Mr James Lewarne: A sketch entitled “Batherwick’s Diplomacy” was performed by members of the Ebenezer Baptist Church sketch party. Mr Hillier proposed a vote of thanks to all those who had contributed and was seconded by Mr E. Bull. The committee planned to plant shrubberies and flower beds around the baths.
The Completion of the Swimming Baths.
On Whit-Wednesday 7th of June 1933, the first swimming gala was held at the Six Bells Lido, under the auspices of the Powell’s Tillery Swimming Club. Mr George Dagger M.P. was present and Mr A. L. Cranch of Cardiff the well-known photographer who used to reside in Six Bells made several shots of the gala with his cinecamera from which moving pictures were made.
Swimming Exhibitions and Galas.
Members of the Powell’s Tillery Swimming team and the Six Bells S. C. took part. The participants were as follows – Messrs Ken Green; Lance Harding; N. Mason; Ron Harris; G. Webb; Rees Rees: Ladies, Miss Nancy Gill; Marianne Gill; Iris Hancock; Lilian Hammond and Mrs M. Padfield: The Judges were Mr T. Jones (Tillery S. C.) Mr Glyn Evans (Six Bells) and Mr R. E. Green (Starter):
An exhibition of fancy swimming was performed by Miss Cranch of Cardiff, Daughter of Mr Cranch, the photographer and was supported by Miss Beatrice Langdon (Powell’s Tillery S. C.). Mr C. Crook and Mr A. Williams (Powell’s Tillery S. C.) also gave a display, Mr Crook was one of the best swimmers in Wales his exhibition of “Monkey up the stick” drew loud applause and Williams and Crook did the “Submarine and Torpedo” with perfection.
To end the gala, a polo match was held between the first and second teams of the Powell’s Tillery Steam Coal Collieries Water Polo Team. This match constituted the introduction of water polo at Six Bells.
The Six Bells Polo Team.
Later, the Six Bells Lido Water Polo Team was formed and entered into the water polo league. The team members were as follows – Mr E. Jefferies; Mr P. Mason; Mr I. Webber; Mr G. Evans; Mr N. Mason; Mr J. Powell and Mr G. Webb:
The Brynithel Lido Proposal.
On Monday 12th of June 1933, a committee was set up at Brynithel to consider the advisability of constructing a lido on a slice of land laid out for a recreation ground by the Abertillery District Council from the landowner Mr T. P. Price Estate. Mr Tom Bevan presided and outlined the scheme. It was resolved to press forward with the scheme. The following officials were elected – Mr T. Bevan (Chairman); Mr G. Hathaway (Treasurer); Mr H. Arscott (Secretary); Committee – Mr A. Rudge; Mr F. Jewel; Mr W. Boulton; Mr A. Hancock; Mr W. Price; Mr N. Lewis; Mr Jacob Jones and Mr L. Bobbett: Mr George Daggar was interviewed after which he gave his support to the movement. The proposed new lido at Brynithel including cementing and fencing work was estimated at £120. No other report was available on the scheme.
There was also great interest shown for a committee to be set up in Llanhilleth and the Glebe Land area in Gelli Crug for the construction of lidos at these places.
The Later Years.
During the 1940’s both swimming pools at Six Bells fell into disrepair and were deemed a danger to the public.
The Council Inspection.
On Friday 26th March 1948 the South Wales Gazette reported that Mr R. Eke (Deputy Surveyor) for the Abertillery Council had visited the site of the Six Bells Lido and gave the report of his inspection to the Abertillery Council Roads and Bridges Committee. He observed the baths were filled with boulders and debris, the filtration plant was down with several bits of machinery taken away. The dressing cubicles were pulled down and the area was a danger to the public. The only remedy was to pull it down and fill in the baths, though it was deemed too expensive and the work should be undertaken by the lido trustees. Further enquiries were to be made.
In the 1950’s the South Wales Gazette reported on the residents’ concerns of large boulders rolling down the mountain from the open-cast mining operations. The stones were settling in the valley on the site of the Six Bells Lido.
Following is A link to – The Six Bells Children’s Swimming Pool.
(More information to follow).