Introduction:
The Pit head baths’ were built in 1939 and were demolished in 19986, and therefore was in use by the miners and sometimes the people of the village for a total of 47 years. In this time many memories of the bath’s were made, the older generation can remember the concert’s that were held on the flat roof of the canteen, when the piano from the Dunraven Arms would be wheeled over and hoisted up on to the canteen roof for a good old song song. You will see from the memories shared below that there are vivid memories of the concert’s even to this day.
Other’s used the canteen facilities as and when they needed, but it was always the miners who had first priority. The food and drinks were always of the highest quality, and the custard slices and pasties were something to behold.
Below is a video of the history of the bath’s at Cwmgwrach and not forgetting the bath’s at Aberpergwm, which were probably not so well known due to their location.
At the bottom of the article are two newspaper clippings of the opening of the bath’s.
History of the Pit head bath’s in the UK:
Memories of the Cwmgwrach Pit head bath’s:
There were many memories of the pit head bath’s captured on the village face book page recently, I have included many of the comments in the pictures below.
A newspaper clipping of the opening of Cwmgwrach Pit head bath’s:
25th February 1939 ~ The Blaengwrach Pithead baths was opened and handed over to the baths trustees on the 25th February 1939. The building was the first to be opened in the Neath valley at a cost off £26,000, and was opened by Sir William Jenkins, M.P. for Neath. (See newspaper cutting.)
A newspaper clipping of the opening of Cwmgwrach Pit head bath’s:
4th November 1939 ~ The Aberpergwm Pit head baths was opened and handed over to the Trustees on the 4th November 1939. It cost £36,000 to build and could accommodate 2,112 workers.
