Press Releases

On 1 January 1947, the National Coal Board gained possession of around 800 privately owned collieries across the UK, a historic occasion which was celebrated by miners' raising of the National Coal Board flag. In keeping with tradition, Big Pit's youngest miner, Peter Richings, will raise a replica flag up the headgear at 11.00 am on 2 January 2007.

According to a press release issued in 1954, the National Coal Board "instituted great changes in the mining industry in South Wales," but Big Pit's new booklet, GLO - N C Bloody B, which will be launched later this month, looks at what the miners themselves thought of the nationalisation of collieries in Wales.

While researching the content of the publication, Ceri Thompson, Curator at Big Pit: National Coal Museum, interviewed miners who fought for change to the industry and those who remember the impact of the developments.

"It was difficult to find much praise for the work of the National Coal Board" he said. "In 1947, following the collapse of the coal industry during the 1920s and 30s, nationalisation was broadly welcomed by miners who wanted to bring an end to mass pit closures as well as the introduction of safer and better working conditions. Nationalisation was supposed to give them a greater say in the running of their industry. However, our findings argue the change in management wasn't as beneficial as workers had hoped."

There are varying views regarding the long-term effectiveness of the National Coal Board, however Vesting Day (1 January 1947) itself was of great significance to miners in Wales.

Peter Walker, Manager of Big Pit said: "Nationalisation of the mines may not have lived up to the dreams of the miners of the 1930's and 40's but there's no denying that without it the British mining industry would not have become the most efficient in Europe and the safest in the world.

"Big Pit has always attempted to tell the story of mining in Wales through the eyes of the people who made the industry, and this booklet is no exception. GLO - N C Bloody B includes the views and memories of those who worked at the pits, and paints an honest picture of what life was like at the coalfields in Wales from 1947 onwards."

Thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government, you can visit Big Pit: National Coal Museum for free. The site is open from 10.00 am-4.30 pm during January.

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales celebrates its centenary in 2007. For more details go to the 07 pages on our website.

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Notes to Editors

• For more information, please contact Catrin Mears, Communications Officer, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales on 07920 027067 or e-mail: catrin.mears@museumwales.ac.uk.