Oakdale Workmen's Institute
What is this building?
Workmen’s institutes, or ‘stutes’ as they were fondly known, were once common sights in Welsh industrial towns and villages. Coal miners and other workers clubbed together to build these impressive structures to provide education and leisure facilities for workmen and their families.
Where was Oakdale Institute originally built?
It was originally built in Oakdale, a mining village around 10 miles north of Caerphilly.
The foundation stones were laid on 3 July 1916 and just over a year later, the new Oakdale Institute was opened on 10 September 1917.
Why was Oakdale Workmen’s Institute built?
Workmen’s institutes were established as centres for self-education as well as recreation, ‘the brains of the coalfield’.
In the absence of secondary education, the libraries of workmen’s institutes were places were miners could educate themselves through reading. Oakdale library proved a popular facility from the early years, especially when miners were on strike and had time on their hands. In December 1921, 503 books were borrowed and during the 1926 general strike the books borrowed doubled.
As well as the library, there was a reading room, a committee room and a concert hall upstairs. All sorts of groups used the building – from choirs and bands to pigeon fanciers and drama groups. It was also used for political rallies, concerts, lectures and dances.
Who built Oakdale Workmen’s Institute?
The Tredegar Iron and Coal Company gave a loan of £3,000 to build the Institute. This was on top of the £1,554 from the workmen’s penny-a-week payments.
What happened to the Workmen’s Institute’s cinema?
During the 1920s ‘going to the pictures’ became very popular. In 1927 a 650-seat cinema was added, at a cost of £8,106 (more than £400,000 today). It took nearly 30 years to repay the building loan from the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company.
How did Oakdale Workmen’s Institute support the miners?
The Institute played an important role in the welfare of the workers during the 1926 General Strike and the 1930s Depression. A fund was established to help struggling families.
During the Second World War, the Institute was in great demand. Oakdale saw the arrival of evacuees, American troops and ‘Bevin boys’ (brought in to replace miners who had joined the forces). They would go to the pictures, play billiards and dance here. All this generated enough money to pay off the building debt in 1945.
When did Oakdale Workmen’s Institute close?
From the 1960s, village life in Oakdale changed and so too did the Institute. Membership went into decline. In a desperate attempt to save the Institute, it was converted into a club. Many in the community were against this change of direction. The Institute continued to run at a loss and in 1987 it closed.
When was Oakdale Workmen’s Institute opened at the Museum?
The work of rebuilding Oakdale at St Fagans started in 1992, and was opened to the public three years later in 1995.
The building was officially opened by Rt. Hon. Neil Kinnock, former MP for the constituency of Bedwellty within which Oakdale was situated.
Further reading: Building on strong foundations: Oakdale Workmen’s Institute
Building facts:
- Original Location:Oakdale, Gwent (Monmouthshire)
- Date originally built: 1916
- Dismantled & rebuilt at St Fagans:1989
- Opened to the public: 1995
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