In Llwnypia there are terraces of house climbing the hill which were built for the miners. None of these houses had baths so at the top of the hill in a field opposite them are large concrete foundations with rusted pipes sticking out of them. This Was the bath-house for them.
@@mikewilliams1633 Thanks Mike. I found no record of this, only they had them at the Empire Pool. Knowing how they expanded their use post war that would fit the pattern.
A fascinating video, Bob. Interestingly enough, Penarth Baths, on the Esplanade, near the Pier Pavilion, had two swimming baths and also at least two slipper baths, on the left, just as one went in at the front door. I knew the couple who managed the baths in the early 70s, and they said, at the time, that they had regular customers at that time, for the baths. The architecture of Penarth Baths also has a certain Turkish style too.
Fascinating, as always Bob! You could even take this a step further and look at a South Wales example of pithead baths. I believe you can still look at an example at Big Pit, Blaenavon. And probably also at Rhondda Heritage Park. Not to mention some of the conversions of pithead baths to another purpose, during the Max Boyce era. ;-) South Wales heritage is an almost endless vlog subject.
Wow. That brought back some memories. I was born in the tin bath generation with outside toilet, but luckily my parents eventually had a bathroom built on to the house- such luxury. I certainly remember Guildford Crescent swimming pools, where I joined a swimming club. The water was cold and things were very much better at the Empire Pool. I used to go there on Wednesday afternoons as I selected swimming as my weekly school sport. Strangely, for the annual school swimming gala, the school always went to the Llandaff open air swimming pool- awful place. The only other swimming pool that I used in Cardiff was in Llanrumney, but I have no idea if that is still open. Your point about combating disease by promoting cleanliness was something that the authorities forgot during the Covid pandemic, shutting public conveniences where you could at least wash your hands- one of the most effective ways of avoiding infection.
@@cardiffian558 There are a few in the Treforest area. Very well built. Thing is if you start hanging around them. Maybe taking pictures it could get a bit George Michael!
Thanks Bob, brought back many memories of spending many hours at Guildford Crescent Baths in the 1960’s. Tuesday night YMCA club in the mens's pool, and Friday night with Cardiff Otters Swimming club in the mixed pool. Also the County Scouts gala heats were held in Guildford with the finals held the following week at the Empire Pool, these went on until circa 1980. I think the final nail in the coffin for Guildford was the opening of leisure centre pools across Cardiff, which came with slides and wave machines.
Always prefered Guildford crescent to the Empire as a kid, always left the Empire with sore eyes, and was always sick the day after. I actually had swimming lessons in the Empire, in a small pool on a lower floor than the main pool, not sure many people even knew it existed.Our bath, back in the 60's, was in the kitchen, and had a fold down lid that doubled as a table (quite a frightener if it spontaneously dropped when you were in the bath).
Oh how I remember getting my widther certificate at Guildford Crescent bath's. So proud!!! Was in Coed Glass then. Thanks for resurrecting old memories.
I think a third reason for lack of photographs is the function - it would be frowned upon to photograph semi naked people, especially women and nowadays, children.
I would agree however there aren't any pictures of the facilities themselves without people. Ironically the ones of the pools I have found always have people in them 😁
In Llwnypia there are terraces of house climbing the hill which were built for the miners. None of these houses had baths so at the top of the hill in a field opposite them are large concrete foundations with rusted pipes sticking out of them. This Was the bath-house for them.
The slipper baths at Guildford Crescent were still in service up until they closed in 1984/1985.
@@mikewilliams1633 Thanks Mike. I found no record of this, only they had them at the Empire Pool. Knowing how they expanded their use post war that would fit the pattern.
A fascinating video, Bob. Interestingly enough, Penarth Baths, on the Esplanade, near the Pier Pavilion, had two swimming baths and also at least two slipper baths, on the left, just as one went in at the front door. I knew the couple who managed the baths in the early 70s, and they said, at the time, that they had regular customers at that time, for the baths. The architecture of Penarth Baths also has a certain Turkish style too.
@@mattgeldart519 I did consider adding Penarth Baths to the video, but it would have just got longer and longer 😁
I eventually accessed your visual-story, Bob. Thank you, so much. Very interesting.
Originally, Cardiff was supposed to host the 1946 EMPIRE GAMES.
Fascinating, as always Bob! You could even take this a step further and look at a South Wales example of pithead baths. I believe you can still look at an example at Big Pit, Blaenavon. And probably also at Rhondda Heritage Park. Not to mention some of the conversions of pithead baths to another purpose, during the Max Boyce era. ;-) South Wales heritage is an almost endless vlog subject.
I have wandered through the baths at Big Pit, as you say it's a whole topic on its own.
Wow. That brought back some memories. I was born in the tin bath generation with outside toilet, but luckily my parents eventually had a bathroom built on to the house- such luxury.
I certainly remember Guildford Crescent swimming pools, where I joined a swimming club. The water was cold and things were very much better at the Empire Pool. I used to go there on Wednesday afternoons as I selected swimming as my weekly school sport. Strangely, for the annual school swimming gala, the school always went to the Llandaff open air swimming pool- awful place.
The only other swimming pool that I used in Cardiff was in Llanrumney, but I have no idea if that is still open.
Your point about combating disease by promoting cleanliness was something that the authorities forgot during the Covid pandemic, shutting public conveniences where you could at least wash your hands- one of the most effective ways of avoiding infection.
Thanks Bob. What about something on the street urinals around the south Wales valleys. I find them very Od!
@@LouisePowell-s8j There is one in St Fagans museum. Not sure I will be going down that route but great suggestion. They are a bit odd.
There is still one in use on Broadway, Pontypridd - red brick with a black brick edging
@@cardiffian558 There are a few in the Treforest area. Very well built. Thing is if you start hanging around them. Maybe taking pictures it could get a bit George Michael!
Thanks Bob, brought back many memories of spending many hours at Guildford Crescent Baths in the 1960’s. Tuesday night YMCA club in the mens's pool, and Friday night with Cardiff Otters Swimming club in the mixed pool. Also the County Scouts gala heats were held in Guildford with the finals held the following week at the Empire Pool, these went on until circa 1980. I think the final nail in the coffin for Guildford was the opening of leisure centre pools across Cardiff, which came with slides and wave machines.
@@criso6164 It was old and in a place which couldn't be expanded so I agree, it's place was taken by more modern facilities.
Another great video. A wonderful combination of local and social history.
@@MikeOSullivan-z4n Thanks Mike.
Absolutely loved this! Really nicely presented too! Thank you!
@@jessa67 Thank you for watching.
Always prefered Guildford crescent to the Empire as a kid, always left the Empire with sore eyes, and was always sick the day after. I actually had swimming lessons in the Empire, in a small pool on a lower floor than the main pool, not sure many people even knew it existed.Our bath, back in the 60's, was in the kitchen, and had a fold down lid that doubled as a table (quite a frightener if it spontaneously dropped when you were in the bath).
There is a similar bath in the cottages at St Fagans in the kitchen. I can appreciate the space savings and I suppose better than in the tin bath
Super Sausage Truckers overnight stop next to Semilong spencer Bridge Road. That was a Slipper bath. I remember it as a kid.
Oh how I remember getting my widther certificate at Guildford Crescent bath's. So proud!!! Was in Coed Glass then. Thanks for resurrecting old memories.
I think a third reason for lack of photographs is the function - it would be frowned upon to photograph semi naked people, especially women and nowadays, children.
I would agree however there aren't any pictures of the facilities themselves without people. Ironically the ones of the pools I have found always have people in them 😁
A very interesting video thanks Bob for your time, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Glad you enjoyed it
Very interesting, Bob. Here in the Netherlands, my uncles family ran a bath house until the late sixties
'The Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive' web site might be of interest
@@carlnevans1 Thanks. They have asked to have this added to their site which I was rather humbled by