NCB & Stuff (National Coal Board)

National Coal Board

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/industry_coal03.shtml 

On 1 January 1947, known as vesting day, the National Coal Board took over the assets of over 800 private collieries.   The contracts of their employees were transferred, as were the coal deposits and other assets of the Coal Commission and the functions and staff of the district selling schemes.  

This day was welcomed by miners as they believed they would be free from the coal owners.   Unfortunately, it soon became clear that the NCB would continue to work much in the same vein as their predecessors. 

I had the privilege to see a certificate issued to Thomas Thayer (undated) by the NCB for his ‘long and meritorious service, and in recognition and appreciation of 50 years loyal and efficient service to the Mining Industry and the Country.’    It was signed by the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Divisional Board.

Mining conditions

The dangers of mining created a community spirit, as with other mining areas.   Men had to trust and rely on each other during working hours, and especially after an accident or during an emergency.    Many went down the pit in darkness, and emerged again to darkness, rarely seeing daylight.   Each one knew when he would next be going down the pit, but not whether he would be coming back up.   Returning day after day, week after week, needed a strong mental attitude and supportive colleagues.    Unquestionably, the stress caused by such mental pressure often caused domestic and neighbourhood problems.    Families found different ways of dealing with the pressures, and some coped better than others.     Wives also had to live with this stress whilst cooking, washing clothes, and cleaning the house from all the coal dust.   Many relied on the support of their families who lived in the same street, or nearby.   Often mothers, sisters, brothers and grandparents, all lived within a few houses of each other, the men working together in the same pit.     These families lived amongst other large families, forming a cobweb of support throughout the terraced streets.    This closeness helped unite the whole area.    Wives would watch out for each other as husbands were brought home injured or killed.  

The men who worked together in such severe conditions, also spent their leisure time together at the Institute, the Conservative Club, the Walpole (later to be the Rugby Club), or the Central Hotel.

The Royal Oak, Llanhilleth

Iron Rations

During the War many foods were rationed, but miners were allowed extra food rations including sugar rations because of their arduous work.    The normal cheese ration for a family was 2oz.    

March

In 1952 a demonstration was held in Cardiff against the withdrawal of Section 62 of the unemployment Insurance Regulations.      The men marching represented all those unable to, due to Pneumoconiosis – dust on the lungs.    Old miners could barely walk a few yards because of this disease.   They were a well-known sight in valley towns standing on street corners for a chat with other ex-miners.   Walking slowly, then taking a whiff* (rest) for a cigarette, a cough and a spit, probably several times before arriving home.

*Whiff was originally the name of a popular cigarette but came to mean having a break, or stopping to get your breath back whilst having a cigarette. 

St Illtyds

Open Cast

In 1957 St. Illtyd’s Church was forced to close, mainly due to opencast mining in the Mynydd Llanhilleth area which continued for a further 5 years.  St Illtyd's is now open to the public on Sunday afternoons (please check with Blaenau Gwent Council before visiting).

The Mynydd Islwyn seams had been used on a small scale by farmers for their own fires for decades.   After the coal was removed the Forestry Commission reclaimed the land and planted coniferous forest.

1966

In 1966 a young lad on his way home from working the night shift was surprised by a Policeman emerging from the shadows.   The policeman questioned the lad even though it was obvious where he had been.   They spoke for a long time, and gradually the policeman persuaded the lad to join the force.  

At that time a miners’ wages were £36 per week, and a policeman earned £12.   It was a struggle to manage on much lower wages.   Dangers of the pit were left behind, to be replaced by a different set of dangers, thanks to a caring policeman.

North Sea Gas & other reasons

In 1965 the Coal Plan was to reduce UK coal production to 170-180 million tons by 1970.   In 1967 the discovery of North Sea Gas ensured these figures were reduced to 120 million tons by 1975.

Llanhilleth Pit closed 1969.

In 1967 when the Navigation Pit at Crumlin closed, Llanhilleth miners began to see the possibility their beloved pit could also close.   After discrete discussions amongst the workers, the word went out that the Monday afternoon shift would stay down.   A seven day sit-in followed, and men from the Union Lodge regularly took down fresh lamps for the protestors.    Against regulations, they also took down food.   The mine was on stop, so no work was carried out, the men chatted and kept up their spirits.   The sit-in was to try to keep the pit open, but in hindsight it probably helped its closure.     Very few men now living in Llanhilleth can claim to be involved.

Miners, generally Labour voters, were confused as the closures were being made by a Labour Government.   They held meetings, and rallies:  “We called but our call was not answered.”    They are proud to have worked in the best colliery in the coalfield and proud to have been part of the best workforce in the country.    The Miners didn’t leave Llanhilleth pit, Llanhilleth left the miners.

In 1969 Llanhilleth Pit closed, with the National Coal Board (NCB) leaving 12.5million tons of workable reserves in the ground.

As the coal industry in Llanhilleth was declining, and railways gradually closed, workers and their families drifted away looking further afield to earn a living.   Men moved to pits at Roseheyworth and Cwm, or the steel works at Ebbw Vale or Metal Box Factory in Neath.    There was even transport laid on for those who worked at British Nylon Spinners in Mamhilad, Pontypool (later known as ICI Fibres, and later still, du Pont.)    Ironically, after all the dirt and grime of the industrial revolution, the ‘Nylon Factory’ was established because of the clean air at Mamhilad.   Production left a smell of bitter lemons in the nostrils of passers-by.    In 1962, a few travelled to Llanwern to the new steelworks that had been opened.   The wages paid for many of these new jobs was far less than pit work, in some cases up to fifty percent less.  

The strong ties created in the unity of harsh work down the pit became diminished.   Wives no longer needed to look out for one another as the danger of instant widowhood diminished.   The village lost the close bonds of earlier years.   With less daily working contact and employment taking men away from the valley, so came less trust, locked doors  and a more guarded approach to strangers moving to the area.    Skills which had been passed from father to son, from generation to generation have been lost, to be replaced in most cases by less physical work or unemployment.    Despite the hardships and dangers of the coal mines, many would like to see a return to the financial security and friendships of previous years.

Gwent Food Fund, Miners Strike 1984-5

During the miners’ strike a working party including Morris Evans, Bill Smith, Brian Inch and Brian Buffin, arranged dances and pastimes for youngsters to help raise funds.    Committee members “lived” in the Institute, organising fund raising events and the distribution of supplies and money to the people who needed it.   They organised hampers of food to be distributed.   They visited “Pick-your-own” fields at farms as far away as Hereford, to gather kidney beans, onions, potatoes, etc. for food hampers.        Local people donated to the cause, and money was donated from NUM contacts abroad.      The Ladies Section of the National Union of Mineworkers, as in 6 Bells, Abertillery Institute, and other areas, was very active during this time, collecting donations house-to-house as well as helping distribute the proceeds.

Handouts of £5 to £10 per household were made, depending on the number of children, and other circumstances.    Disagreement was often caused with feelings running high, when equal payments were made to people with ‘unofficial’ jobs as well as those unable to earn.

Coal was taken from the coal trucks parked up during the strike.

Most depressed village  ???

In October 1987, an article in the South Wales Argus, described Llanhilleth as the most depressed village in Gwent.      Many of the village shops were boarded up and closing down.   The Institute was losing its members and lacked the finances to maintain the building.    Much has changed since that time.    Llanhilleth is becoming a “Sleeper town,” for people working in the surrounding area.   The Institute attracts not only local people, but those from around the valleys to join in events and see both up-and-coming and top artists.    With a baby clinic and a nursery as well as a luncheon club, Afternoon Tea Dance,  camera club, Zumba Dancing, it is again attracting people of all ages and interests.

BIG PIT

Pithead baths at Big Pit

At Blaenavon we can still have an opportunity to see how these miners earned their living. Groups of visitors are taken down in the pit cage to 300 ft underground. A tour generally takes over an hour.  The friendly guides are ex-miners and their banter illustrates the comradeship these men shared.   They had to depend upon each other for their lives as well as their livelihood.

Rhondda Heritage Centre

was opened after the Lewis Colliery closed in 1986.   There you can visit a mock-up of a mine as well as a period village street and enjoy enormous welsh cakes in the cafe.

Alexander Cordell

Cordell’s books give a very harsh fictional perspective on life in the South Wales.   After closely studying  the geography and buildings of the area, Cordell used them to write one view of how our ancestors may have lived.  Chris Barber now has recently republished several of his books, including "Rape of the Fair Country."