Florence Pithead Baths 1930
Researched by John Lumsdon
The pithead baths which have been provided at the Florence colliery, Longton, the first installation of the kind in the North Staffordshire Coalfield were opened on Saturday 26th April by Viscount Chaplin. Erected at a cost of £17,000 out of money from the Miners’ Welfare Fund, they will supply accommodation for no fewer than 1,428 men.
Mr John Cocks in introducing Lord Chaplin announced that the District Committee had funds amounting to £104,000 and it was expected that in the next two years, all the North Staffordshire collieries would be similarly equipped. A presentation to Viscount Chaplin was made at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Mr John Cocks of the Shelton Iron Steel and Coal Co and President of the North Staffordshire Coal Owners Ass who presided, was supported by Viscount Chaplin, Director of the old Florence Coal and Iron Company who performed the opening ceremony. There were many others from the coal industry, including a large batch of the Florence workpeople, together with members of their families.
District Committee Policy
The chairman having extended a warm welcome to Viscount Chaplin said those present might think that the District Welfare Committee had been rather dilatory in getting their schemes going and in spending the money that had been contributed for a period of seven years. But they would realise, if they thought for a moment, that that tremendous amount of money which was at the disposal of the District Committee might easily be frittered away if the method of applying it to the whole of North Staffordshire were not carefully considered and placed upon a sound foundation. It had been the experience in some districts that big sums of money had been spent on building which had been allowed to become derelict and they had been anxious to avoid such a state of things in North Staffordshire. What their District Committee to do was to give them something in the shape of bricks and mortar which would help to improve the social conditions in which they lived and add to the amenities of life in the North Staffordshire coal field.
In 1927 their local committee decided that it would be a wise policy to try to introduce pit-head baths and a sum of £13,000 a year was earmarked for four years making a sum of £52,000. To this sum the Central Committee added a similar sum making so they had a total of £104,000 which was to be used between now and 1932 on pithead bath installation.
The support for the movement had been rather slow and a certain amount of education had to be necessary to induce the men to take the initiative. After all the money to be used was that of the Welfare Fund to which the men contributed and if the baths were to be a success the support of those who were to use them was requisite. The men in that colliery did take the initiative. There was a ballot and as a result 98% of the men voted in favour of the baths.
Viscount Chaplin
Viscount Chaplin said there were two reasons why he very greatly appreciated the compliment of being asked to come for the inauguration of those baths. The first was that his family had been connected with the Florence Colliery from its inception. He believed he was correct in stating that the third Duke of Sutherland commenced sinking the Florence pit in 1872 and began to draw coal from it in 1878. That was carrying them back quite a long way.
The present Duke of Sutherland would have been there that day if he had not been on his way to India. His second reason was that the opening of those baths, in his opinion marked the beginning of a new era in the mining world of the district. The baths would add greatly to the comfort and convenience of those connected with the Florence Colliery. They were the sign of the co-operation the employers and the employed which was very much needed and cordially welcomed. After all the only sure basis of success and the best in a great industry especially one as important as coal mining was mutual trust and good will between those connected with it. The miners’ Welfare Fund was an admirable illustration of what could be done by a small levy. The baths would be a great saving of labour and worry to the wives in the homes of the men. He hoped that the same system would be adopted in the collieries throughout the district and that the men would faithfully follow the advice given them in the excellent pamphlet which has been printed respecting the use of the baths. It was his great privilege and pleasure to declare the baths open.
Mr Finney, in proposing a vote of thanks to Viscount Chaplin and the chairman observed that the baths were quite in keeping with the policy of the Miners’ Federation. The Federation had been asking for baths a long time in 1911 and before 1911.
Now their object had been achieved. He hoped that the baths would be diligently used, not merely because of cleanliness and for the trouble and inconvenience that would be saved in men’s homes, but because of the great aids to health that they would prove. The motion was seconded by Mr H. Leese supported by Mr S. Haile, and cordially adopted.
Presentation
Then the Chairman announced that Lord Chelmsford, as Chairman of the Welfare Fund had suggested that Viscounts Chaplin’s presence that day would be recognised by some tangible appreciation of his services.
He had been asked therefore, by the builders to request their extinguished visitors’ acceptance of the pictures which now decorated the walls of their canteen. But added, the Chairman amid laughter they all hoped that Viscount Chaplin would leave the pictures behind.
Col Williamson following, handed to Viscount Chaplin as a souvenir of his visit, a small Wedgwood basalt vase decorated with gold figures. They had all been delighted to have Viscount Chaplin with them because of his long connection with the colliery and because of the esteem they all felt for him. When invited to come he willingly consented.
Responding, Viscount Chaplin acknowledged the gift of the vase, ad smilingly declared that he would have great pleasure in handing back the pictures. The company proceeded to inspect the baths and tea was afterwards served in a marquee erected on a plot of ground adjacent to the entrance gates of the colliery.