Bath Rooms and Facilites

[mbaynham]

Hi There, I'm doing some research for a production set in a Welsh Pit in the early 90's . Can I ask what the bathroom/showers set up would have been? Were things like towels and soap provided, or did the miners bring them in? Wondering if all the towels would match! 

Thanks 

[colly0410]

When I worked at the pits (Moorgreen & Hucknall late 60's into 70's) you'd bring any old towel from home & they rarely matched, IIRC they'd sell towels & soap from the baths office. The Pit Head Baths soap they sold was very harsh & I wasn't struck on it, I'd usually use coal tar soap, I still use it, I love the smell... There's be rows of showers & all the blokes would be in a line, no privacy at all...

[mbaynham]

Thanks Colly0410, that's really helpful! Am I correct in thinking that uniforms would have been washed by the mine, and dealt with on the 'dirty side', but your towels would come home with you, so they'd end up on a 'clean side' with your clothes where you got dressed to go home? We have a couple of scenes in the locker room, where the miners are getting dressed to leave. 

Thanks so much! 

[colly0410]

Never had uniforms when I worked down the pit, I'd wear old clothes then chuck them away when they were worn out, I'd take them home now & then to wash them...