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The Marine Colliery Pithead Baths – Opening Ceremonial Plaque.
The original opening ceremonial Pithead Baths Plaque. Made from a copper alloy with white lettering inlay. Size of the plaque is 18″ x 24″ inches. Size with the mount is 24″ x 30″ inches. Weight of the plaque is 9kgs, with mount it is 13.7kgs.
The Official Opening.
On Saturday 4th of November 1933, the Marine Colliery Pithead Baths were officially opened. The opening ceremony was presided over by Sir John Beynon Bart C.B.E., the chairman of the directors of the Ebbw Vale Company with Sir J. Lowes Dickinson and Mr E. J. Gay the manager of the colliery and the chairman of the baths committee the Marine Colliery, Cwm, Ebbw Vale.
At the opening ceremony Miss Pat John, daughter of Mr and Mrs W. H. John, (Mr John being the agent to the Ebbw Vale group of collieries) presented a buttonhole to Sir John Beynon, after which she was presented with a gift by the baths committee. Mr W. Miles on behalf of the builders of the baths presented Sir John Beynon with a gold key with which to open the colliery baths. Mr Miles also presented Sir John Beynon with a silver cigarette box. During the speeches Sir John apologised for his wife’s absence as she had a bereavement in the family and was unable to attend the ceremony. Afterwards Mr Miles presented Sir John Beynon with a silver cigarette box.
The Contractor and Architect.
Messrs W. Miles & Sons of Ebbw Vale were the contractors. It was stated that Mr William Miles the head of the company had previously constructed the washery at the Marine Colliery, Cwm and now his son Mr C. W. Miles had built the pithead baths. The architect was Mr J. H. Forshaw, assisted by Mr W. H. Traylor.
Description of the Building.
The Marine Colliery Pithead Baths was constructed with Ebbw Vale red bricks and had an exterior of the noted Ebbw Vale russet brown facing bricks. Built on two storeys it had 1,440 clean lockers and 1,440 dirty lockers. They were constructed by the Miners Welfare Fund at a cost of £26,000.