Ebbw Vale Old School

Drawn to this derelict school building and its marvellous railings, I found the site intriguing.

These photographs were taken in May 2011. 

I have no idea what plans have been made for this building or the ground, or whether its still there a year on.

I love these photos.  I hope you do to.

These images conjure reflections of all the children that must have pushed at the gates.  I wonder where they are now.   All those faces, happy and sad;  all those feet that jumped in those muddy puddles...

The teachers and head are justly proud of the new school built next door.  With children's art displayed on the walls, and imaginatively decorated corners its a modern educationalist's dream.   I wonder what the teachers from this building would think of it.

I just love these photos.

Owain Glyndŵr's Old Dolgellau Parliament House (Petition)

Not the South Wales Valleys, but equally important.   This building. situated in mid-Wales is part of our heritage and should be kept for posterity, not sold privately. 

 

The owner of the blog I have linked below feels strongly about a great many things.   His site explains the importance of the building pictured above.
http://owain-glyndwr-embassyllysgenhadaeth.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/owain-glyndwrs-old-dolgellau-parliament.html

He has set up a petition to help save the building.   Please click here and sign his petition if you feel, as I do, that it needs protecting.
https://www.assemblywales.org/gethome/e-petitions/epetition-list-of-signatories.htm?pet_id=670&showfrm=0

Thanks for your help.

Coastal Path Events & Transporter Bridge

Tides coming in...

Wales Coastal Path will open in May 2012.   Explorers will be able to walk from Chepstow in the south, following the coast for 850 miles to Queensferry in the north.   This glorious asset to Wales will display the wide variety of seascapes around our coastline.   


The gleaming mud flats of the Severn, the golden sands of Swansea, the magnificent Cathedral at St Davids, are a few which come to mind in South Wales, as well as Barmouth and Criccieth Castle in the north.

Wetland mudflats

To celebrate the opening, events are planned for Cardiff, Aberystwyth, and Flint on May 5th.  Contact Helen Howlett via email helen-howlett@monmouthshire.gov.uk.

Newport City Council are planning a

Newport 'City to Sea' Walk

on

Sunday, 6th May 11am-1pm.

extending from the Newport Transporter Bridge to the East Usk Lighthouse at Newport Wetlands, I'm sure it will provide an enjoyable experience with some fantastic photo opportunities.

See you there !    

The unusual and iconic Newport transporter bridge was opened in 1906 by Lord Tredegar.   This bridge, now one of only six of its kind still working, in the world, was designed by F. Arnodin, a Frenchman.  

To avoid obstructing the once busy shipping lanes, of the river Usk, the gondola, which carries passengers and traffic from bank to bank, is suspended on a steel structure high above the river banks.   The height above river level may, at first, appear excessive, but this river boasts one of the highest tides in the country.

Closed in 2008, a £1.2 million restoration saw the bridge reopened on 30 July 2010 and although only open for 193 days during the following year, 40,000 crossings were recorded by pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and vehicles.   But progress in the shape of the George Street Bridge and the Southern Distributor Road, opened in 1964 and 2004 respectively, swallowed 80 per cent of the bridge's traffic.  

A controversial decision by Newport Council has recently deemed the bridge a tourist attraction with changes to both the opening times and charges to come.   Access will be available to both the gondola and the overhead walkway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Transporter_Bridge

  
 Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge:   http://www.fontb.org.uk/   

Do you remember the Garden Festival Wales, Blaenau Gwent

In 1992 the Ebbw Vale Garden Festival Wales was opened.  

Located near the Brecon Beacons National Park with easy access from both the M4 and the A465 "Heads of the Valleys" roads it drew over two million visitors during the five months it was open.

The site was originally part of the Iron & Steel Works and since the festival has become home to1000 houses, a fishing lake, Festival Church, an owl sanctuary, woodlands and a shopping centre.

Your Memories are required

for a new 

Exhibition of Memories!!

Blaenau Gwent Borough Council are planning an exhibition of memories in 2012.
  
They have joined forced with 3VTV to make a series of films about the festival.  One of these films will be devoted to your personal memories.

You can complete a survey form at www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk with your experiences, or forward video footage of the festival that may be sitting in a drawer.

For more information call 01495 355937.

Images included in this article were designed by Penknife Ltd., Cardiff for the original Garden Festival leaflet.


This website gives the political history behind the 1992 Garden Festival at Ebbw Vale:
http://www.gardenfestivalwales.co.uk/index.php?p=before

Torfaen Open Mic, Griffithstown

Torfaen Open Mic ran for four years (Jan 2009-2013) and met on the second Tuesday of each month to share our work.   Some read short stories, or poetry, others talked of their experiences.  The floor was open to artists, musicians, anyone creative to come and "show off."



Panteg House

An open invitation meant we never knew who was going to turn up to share their work.   We have had a poet from Blaenavon in his eighties whose head was full of verse he had created about the mountains that have surrounded him  his whole life, and a musician who played his euphonium in accompaniment to Tiri Tykanawa on his tapedeck.   Wonderful poets and writers, too many to mention.   Ann Drysdale the 'occasional poet,' shared her work with us for our Gwanwyn Festival 2011.

The site of the old Panteg Steel works from the railway bridge

Tuesday, 13th November 2012, 7.30pm we heard "Anecdotes of Panteg House" by Gordon Richards, the current Club Secretary.
 

Cardiff Cafe Writerswith Musician, Stacey Blythe

 performed

Love and Journeys

through monologues, poems and songs,
including pieces from Stacey's new album
"Eleven songs from Love Lane"

The venue, Panteg House, Sunnybank Road, Griffithstown, South Wales NP4 5BE

Claire Syder at Panteg House

In 2012 Torfaen Open Mic  celebrated their fourth Gwanwyn May Festival with sponsorship from Age Cymru.

On Tuesday evening, 8 May the Cardiff Cafe Writers, Claire Syder, Terrance Edwards and Karen Steadman  entertained an appreciative audience with short stories, poetry and songs, accompanied by Stacey  Blythe who also performed  songs from her new album “Eleven Songs from Love Lane.”

After an interval the floor was opened to members of the audience.   A variety of work, included Richard Finlan reading from one of his fantasy novels.   Personal poetry commented on subjects from David Essex to a derelict fishing trawler at Barry Island.   A first for the group was a series of poems performed in Arabic with English translations.   The quality of work was remarkable and very enjoyable.

After four years, the group’s monthly meetings no longer take place on the second Tuesday at 7.30pm at Panteg House, Griffithstown, near Pontypool.   Visitors were always welcome, whether to participate or just enjoy the event.   

Llanhilleth Pithead Baths

An Eyesore or a Heritage Building ?

Feelings run deep !

Rear (but most interesting) elevation

Situated on a horseshoe bend in Llanhilleth village lies an abandoned redbrick building. Although purchased a few years ago with high hopes, its only regular inhabitants now are the buddleia bushes which sprout through any available gap. Its surrounds are used as an overflow car park for any event taking place in the very narrow streets; a funeral at the Zion, a wedding at the Llanhilleth Hotel, (known as the Top Hotel, as its at the top of a hill.)

side view

Welcomed in 1944

But in 1944 this building was welcomed with open arms by the majority of the community. These unassuming buildings, built at pitheads all over the UK, mostly between 1920s and 1950s, improved the health of mining families at a stroke.

Every day women had had back-breaking work, carrying bucket after bucket of cold water from the outside pump, or later the kitchen tap, to boil on an open coal fire, kept alight by carrying bucket after bucket of coal from the cwch on the backyard.This coal had already been carried bucket after bucket from the back lane or the road in front of the terraced house into the coal cwch. This heavy work resulted in premature births, and miscarriages ensuring the lifespan of women (around 40 years,) at this time was even shorter than that of their husbands risking life and limb down the pit. These pithead baths also reduced the number fo women and children receiving scalds and burns, whilst the boiling water was transferred from the hob to the tin bath.

Prior to these baths, the men would walk from the Pit at Llanhilleth,Navigation in Crumlin, or even across the mountain from Abersychan, and arrive home dirty, dusty, sometimes wet or in winter, possibly with icicles on their clothes.Washing and drying such clothes without a washing machine was not an easy task.Meals were cooked on the coal fire or in the fireside oven, and all this while children played underfoot.

side view

Someone loved this building

Towy Berrow was the superintendent of the new building and remained in position until all the miners had gone and the building was handed over to the Contractors in 1969. Scrupulously clean, he spent hours scrubbing and washing the white tiles, even when it was to close. “It was brand new and clean when I took it over and it will be as new as I can make it when I hand it back.”

Towy, as related by his son Tony, was an officer of the St Johns Ambulance, from when the baths opened in 1940s until the pit closed in 1969, when he retired.Sadly the baths quickly fell into ruin.In February 2008 it was announced that“the eyesore was to be demolished.”Plans had been approved to build housing on the site.Four years on and this has yet to be carried out.



Roadside view overlooked by terraced housing

How the Pithead Baths came about

Through the Conference of the Women’s Labour League in 1914,Women’s Co-operative Soc. and Women’s Welfare Groups there was demand for pithead baths.   These groups argued women’s work in the home was as essential to the coal industry as the miners work in the pit.   Coping with large families and over-crowding, they also needed to heat quantities of water on coal fires for the men to bathe with no bathroom, wash their clothes by hand, and clear up the coal dust.   Women were determined.   Pithead Baths  would make a big different to their lives.

The Miners themselves, reluctant to change, questioned who would pay for the baths.   (As with most things, they would, by compulsory contributions from their pay.)   Would they accommodate all the employees?   

roadside view (on horseshoe bend)

After WW1, Elizabeth Andrews and the Women’s Section of the Labour Party in Wales recommenced the fight for the baths.   She had left school aged 12 and became a suffragette.  

In 1919 she was asked to give a speech before Parliament.    Although pithead baths became compulsory during 1924 it took more than thirty years for every miner to have access to this facility.

When, the first baths were opened, some miners were reluctant to use them.   There was mis-information that they would have to stand naked and be hosed down.   They believed that bathing and then going outside to walk home would ensure they caught a cold.   It would cause problems with their spinal chord and weaken them generally.   A miners health was always his priority as illness meant no wages.  

The Mining Industry Act of 1920 imposed a levy of 1d. per ton of coal raised, on coal owners.   Administered by the Miners Welfare Commission.   It provided amenities such as Pit Head Baths, Welfare Halls, and scholarships.   It also provided grants and maintenance costs for Institutes.   In 1952 the cash and investments of the Welfare Commission were transferred to the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation.

By this time, seven out of ten men had access to pithead baths, leaving three out of ten still having to wash at home!    Once their trepidations and shyness had been overcome, true to their chapel roots, the men would often sing hymns and take turns to wash each others’ backs, as well as play pranks and sort out disputes.   Vaseline was commonly used to clean the delicate area around the eyes, and they possibly received a ‘soap and towel’ allowance in their wages for use at the pithead baths.

from facebook "Old Pontypool"

Another Problem was envisaged

Clean men in clean clothes returning from work, no longer contaminated their home with coal dust, dirty wet clothing and, some say, the black bats (cockroaches), which were so common in coal miners’ cottages.  BUT, then came the realisation and fear for wives that their clean men had no reason to go straight home from work.   These baths could become a bad moral influence.    Leaving work clean, smart and ‘tidy,’ men could go to the pub. That was another problem entirely !   Feelings run deep on this issue also...

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/suffragettes.htm

http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/Collection/jl/Pithead-Baths.htm

  

Llanhilleth Colliery, Blaenau Gwent

The coal seams are layers within the earths crust formed from fossilised plants etc.   The South Wales coalfield is basin-shaped with the layers close to the surface or even visible around the edges and deeper and less accessible towards the centre.   Each layer was given a name.   The coal was of differing qualities and structures, so were suitable for different purposes:   house coal, steam engines, etc.


The 'Old Coal' at Llanhilleth pit was worked by heading and stall, leaving pillars of coal to support the roof as the tunnel progressed. It was brought up the No. 1 pit until 1949, after which all work was concentrated in No.2 pit. The main seams worked were:

Big Vein

Black Vein

Meadow Vein

Threequarter
Old Coal.

Throughout the nineteenth century, mines were privately owned. The industry held huge rewards for those with licences to sink shafts or expand existing mines. Some owners became members of the gentry, and many more became extremely rich. These mines were originally created to produce fuel for the production of iron. Gradually it became important in its own right.

Painting by Harry Williams of Llanhilleth

Due to the geography of the Ebbw Fach Valley, the pit, its transport links and workers’ housing filled the valley alongside the river, leaving no space for other industry.   (With the closure of the mines, this lack of alternative work was disastrous.)   There was very little alternative for young lads growing up in the area, but to follow their fathers, and brothers and go down the pit.

Some were lucky enough to work in the local shops and cinema, but very few in comparison to the numbers who went down in the cage to work amidst the dense clouds of coal dust.  One enterprising teacher brought shorthand intothe classroom, in the hope of breaking the family tradition.   Men in their eighties still remember the symbols they were taught, but also remember their lifetime of work underground.   The early mines were primitive and had very little ventilation and no electricity.   

The shafts at Llanhilleth Colliery are as follows:

No. 1 Pit opened 1850            closed 1946
No. 2 Pit opened 1891            closed 1969 (The estimated life of the pit was 50 years, and it lasted just over 78 years.)

Mine workings have been documented at Llanhilleth as early as 1802. The first shaft was sunk by Walter Powell, to the Tillery seam, around 1860-70.     Unfortunately it closed in 1969.

In 1913, 99 per cent of coal was hewn by hand.

Between 1850 and 1920, 3179 miners died in South Wales.  (Thomas, Viscount Tonypandy, 1986)

Abertillery & District History 2000 by Abertillery District Museum Soc, compiled by Don Bearcroft.


1947 saw the Nationalisation of the coal mines.   In 1961 Llanhilleth, along with Cwm, Waunlwyd, and Six Bells formed part of the National Coal Board's 'Crumlin Group.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/industry_coal02.shtml

http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/Gwent/CelynenNorth.htm
Abertillery & District History 2000 by Abertillery District Museum Soc, compiled by Don Bearcroft.
The Industrial Development of the Ebbw Valleys 1780-1914 by John Elliott, ISBN 078318908

Don't come to the South Wales Valleys

Those Green Remembered Valleys   by Meg Gurney

“Me and Jess walked up Mynydd Maen yesterday, from Henllys.   The field on the way up just glowed with knee-high buttercups, beautiful.   Then we sat up by the old mine workings and watched the view for a while to get our breath back.   The day was so clear, you could see the Severn Bridge and even down past Newport to the Bristol Channel.   We could see the sun shining on the water while the clouds shadows glowered on the fields.   There’s so much green space surrounding Cwmbran New Town.   I never get tired of that view.  

Jess, my collie, was watching two heifers dancing and playing in the lush grass, Welsh Blacks they were.   Their mum was too intent on chewing the mountain grass to take any notice of us.

We walked up the gentle slope with Twmbarlwm in the distance, but then dropped down through the bluebell wood and back.   It was glorious;  no-one else around, only the birds in the trees.   We said we’d do it again in the autumn when the beech trees turn, it always makes the wood magical.”

Pettingale Bluebell wood

“Bluebells, you say, Pettingale Woods is the place for bluebells, we went there last week.   Knock spots off Henllys, that will.   Blue as far as the eye can see.   Then you’ve got the view of Llandegfedd Reservoir through the trees, beautiful;  fantastic!   After all that rain this last couple of weeks, its really full, the water lapping round the willow trees.  

What you scribbling at when I’m talking to you, anyway?”

“Well, I have to do this travel piece on South Wales, so I’m writing about Cardiff Castle and the city.”

Tower at Cardiff Castle with gold leaf

“Everyone knows about those places.   Why don’t you write about where you live, here, in the Valleys?    It’s got it all, man, it’s wonderful.   Tourists would really like it.”

Mon & Brecon Canal, Griffithstown

“What, and have hundreds of them tramping along our canal towpath, feeding the ducks, and sitting in my seat in the Open Hearth of an evening;  crowding the bar when I need to get a drink;  queuing in the fish shop when I want to buy my supper?   Don’t be daft.”

Mon & Brecon Canal

“I see where you’re coming from.   Perhaps you’re right.   It is nice to have all these places to yourself.   Mind you, took our kid to Big Pit yesterday, top of Blaenavon.    Didn’t realise the guides that take you down the pit, are all ex-miners.   Our bloke knew his stuff though, he reckoned it was the largest umbrella in South Wales on a wet day.   They get crowded out by all the groups who’d planned to go kayaking or trekking as well as the families who’d just planned a day in the hills.   Dew, them miners had it hard;  seemed to enjoy a joke though.   We went down in the cage and then he explained it all when we got down in the pit.   Turned the lights out and all, he did.   Then we had a welsh-cake and a cup of tea in the cafe.”

“Welsh-cakes, I love welsh-cakes warm from the bakestone.   Our mam made the best welsh-cakes you ever tasted.   
 Let me see now – ‘Cardiff Castle’s impressive Victorian facade...”

Cardiff Castle

“You could tell them about Aberdulais Waterfalls, Fantastic place to go, that is.   Went there last summer, really cool on a hot day.   We had a picnic.   It’s environmentally friendly, you know, using water power and that.   It’s been used since fifteen hundred and something.   That’s far enough away, isn’t it?”

One section of the Aberdullais Waterfalls

“Not if they’re touring round and about.   Think, man.   It’s only a few minutes in a car along the Heads of the Valleys Road.   They could be here in no time.   No, the idea is to keep them in and around the City Centre.   That way, they spend their money in the shops and attractions and stay away from us, keeping the Valleys peaceful, see.   ‘...encloses a Norman Motte and Bailey and open to the public most days.   It is well worth a visit whilst spending time in the city of Cardiff...’”   

“Did you know Brynmawr is the highest point on that road?   Over thirteen hundred feet, the sign says.   I’d not noticed that till the other day on my way to Merthyr.   That’s high that is.”

“Oh, stop blethering, you and your statistics.   Let me concentrate.   I’m trying to write.”

Greenhill Road, Sebastopol circa 1912

“You could say something like – ‘Sebastopol, not an exotic destination in far off Russia, but..’.”

“Sebastopol?   Sebastopol?    Who on earth wants to read about Sebastopol?

“The people who live in Sebastopol in Russia?   After all, they don’t name places after Russian towns these days, do they?    Something to do with the Crimea, I think it was.   You could say it’s within twenty-five minutes drive of Cardiff.   Not far, really.   Then there’s Pontypool.   It’s got the old market hall, and the museum...”

“And Tesco’s, I told you, they’re not coming here if I have anything to do with it.”

“Well, you could take them up to Twmbarlwm from the other valley.   Earth works, glorious views, fresh air – that would be good.   They could drive up through Cwmcarn Forest Drive.   They’re not going to climb down this side if their car is on the other side, are they?   They might even enjoy mountain biking over there, and camping.   Someone said it’s one of the leading tracks in the UK now.   It’s even been in the cycling magazines.”
"Or the Skirrid.   Now there's a place.   Fantastic views."

“Once you encourage them to move out of the City Centre, with our improved road system, then who knows where they’ll end up?   The Brecon Beacons, Caerphilly Castle, Sebastopol?   I just don’t intend to start spreading ideas.    Where was I, ‘...ample parking is available...”

“Well I think you’re being selfish, trying to keep all this to yourself.   These valleys are so beautiful and we have so much heritage on our doorstep;  ironworks, scourings, miners’ institutes, all sorts.      People would be really interested.   Blaenavon is a World Heritage site.    I’m proud of the part we played in the industrial development of the world today.  We mined coal and forged iron to make steam ships to sail the seas.   Those ships carried coal and rails across to India so they could have steam trains.”

“Very poetic, you’ll be standing and singing the Welsh National Anthem next.   Look, what people don’t know about, they don’t worry about.   The beauty of the Valleys is the best kept secret about Wales.   I don’t intend to be the one to spill the beans, okay?   Alexander Cordell had it right.  

“That author chap?   Marvellous, his books have sold all over the world.   Great publicity...”

“Yes, but he knew how to keep this area to himself.   That’s why he wrote about the heavy industry, the pollution, the poverty and suffering of the poor, so people wouldn’t expect it to be beautiful.”

“Well, he helped raise awareness of the place.   Put us on the map, so to speak.   It just seems a shame you want to keep people away.   Everyone around here is so friendly.   They’d enjoy the chance to talk to tourists.   Orators, that’s the word;  Aneurin Bevan, Lloyd George.   Valley’s boys can be great orators.   Do you know, we have more poets per square foot of land than anywhere else in Britain?  That’s something to be proud of.    A fair few of them live around here, you only have to go down the pub to hear them.”     

“Talking about going down the pub...”

“I thought you were writing?”

“Well, perhaps those orators of yours’ll give me inspiration.”