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Miners' Institutes.
The Miners' Institutes developed from the latter part of the 19th century. This coincided
with the development of the coalfield when a great influx in population created new
demands for self-education, and a need for meeting places for both lodge business and
community recreation.
The Institutes strongly reflected the role of the community, and conversely they became focal points for the locality. They were largely financed by the miners themselves, up until the introduction of the Miners Welfare Act in 1920 which offered further assistance.
The Miners' Institutes contained libraries, reading rooms, games rooms, and encompassed a whole range of other activites which reflected the interests of the community, often including a cinema.
The golden era after World War II was followed by the demise of the institutes, again in line with social trends. These included the provision of secondary education and local library facilities, the change in the social past times, and most importantly through the contraction of the coalfield following the pit closures from the 1950's onwards.
The Institute collection within the South Wales Coalfield Collection consists of the
records from ten miners' institutes. The records include minute books, account books,
correspondence, and general records, which all reflect the day-to-day operation of the
institutes.
(117 volumes, 13 files and 7 envelopes)
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