Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
The Ballot for the Pithead Baths.
In July 1929 a Ballot was held for the construction of a pithead baths at the North Celynen Colliery. The votes cast were as follows – 642 votes for and 525 votes against. This close result was quite normal as most of the colliers did not want to bathe at work.
The Opening Ceremony of the Pithead Baths.
On Saturday 2nd of July 1932, the North Celynen Colliery Pithead Baths and a new lamproom were officially opened. The baths which was described as the most modern and commodious in South Wales was erected at a cost of £24,000 made provision for 1,344 men were erected under the Miners Welfare Scheme and was constructed by Messrs W. Miles & Sons, contractors of Ebbw Vale.
The opening ceremony was conducted by Mr W. C. Evans, who was manager of the colliery and the chairman of the Pithead Baths Committee. Mr Evans paid tribute to Mr Harry Williams, who had been chairman of the miner’s lodge and largely responsible for the baths being built.
The North Celynen Colliery Pithead Baths were opened by Lady Beynon, M.B.E. wife of Sir John Beynon, Bart., C.B.E. the managing director of the Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Company Ltd. Miss Beynon (Daughter) later officially opened the new lamproom. Sir John Beynon spoke of how, as a child he had been taken by his father to the “Cutting of the Sod Ceremony” at the South Celynen Colliery and said he hoped that the North Celynen Colliery would be one of the largest coal producing collieries in Wales.
Mr W. Miles, the contractor presented Lady Beynon with a golden key though before Lady Beynon opened the door to the baths she also said of “How 59 years ago, the first sod at the collieries was cut by one of the dearest little old ladies that ever lived, her husband’s mother”. She said, “She was glad to follow in her footsteps and to have the honour of opening the first Pithead Baths in the Newport Abercarn Group of collieries”.
The Official Opening of the Lamproom.
Later Miss Beynon opened the new lamproom and was presented with a modern electrical lamp and an oil safety lamp as souvenirs of the special occasion. The company of 250 present at the ceremonies were afterwards conveyed in motor cars and buses to the Abercarn Welfare Pavilion for tea.
There was a huge gathering of dignitaries, guests and other spectators, (too many to list but available on request).
The Contractor and Architect.
The contractor was Messrs W. Miles & Sons of Ebbw Vale.
The New Baths Extension and Canteen.
It seems that even though the pit-head baths were one of the largest of its kind when it was originally constructed in 1932, it was thought necessary to build it even larger still. In 1933-34 plans were put in place to build an extension including a new idea of a pit canteen. The construction of both buildings went ahead.
The Official Opening of the Baths Extension and Canteen.
On Saturday 8th of September 1934, the North Celynen Pithead Baths new extension costing £16,000, was officially opened. The baths now had provision for 2,184 men and bath cubicles numbering 230. There were 1,960 men employed at the colliery and there was ample provision for additional men to be signed on. Mr Ben Owen (Agent) stated that “The canteen built adjoining the baths was the first of its kind in South Wales”. Mr Owen said “The canteen sales profits would be used to reduce the men’s subscriptions towards the baths”. The total cost of the baths, new extension and the canteen was £49,000. Mr Harry Williams the chairman of the works committee presented Lady Beynon with a gold wristwatch and referred to her as a great social worker. Others who made speeches on the day were as follows – Mr Trevor L. Mort, general manager of the Ebbw Vale Co; Mr Opton Purnell, miners’ sub-agent; Mr W. Robbins, vice-chairman of the lodge; Mr D. Evans the secretary of the management committee and Mr George Yearsley the lodge secretary:
In January 1935 it was announced that the canteen profits had been enough to provide each of the thousand or more men who use the baths with one pound of soap and a towel. The money was taken from the profits of the canteen where tea and cocoa were provided.
In February 1936 a deputation from the Abertillery and District Hospital Board waited on a general meeting of the North Celynen Colliery Lodge and asked for a donation towards the purchase of a new “X-Ray Control Table”. Later the deputation was informed that the lodge had decided to give £75 the total sum required for the purchase of the table. It was understood the table was inscribed with “Presented by the North Celynen Colliery workmen”. Mr Harry Williams was at the meeting and stated the feeling was that it couldn’t go to a more deserving cause. Members of the hospital board included the following – Mr W. Higgins (Chairman); Mr Walter Davies (Vice Chairman); Alderman Mr W. T. Williams and the (Secretary of the Hospital):