Pithead baths and canteen building, part altered
to form stores as part of site museum of the coal mining
industry. 1936-37, subsequently converted to museum storage and
visitor accommodation (now closed).
Red brick, with flat roof decks presumed to be of
concrete. Irregular 'L' plan, principally of 1 and 2 storeys,
but with tall square water tower and lower entrance tower. South
Elevation; single storey range to centre with canteen entrance
having a curved end to the east wing which incorporates 5
four-light steel windows frames. West wing to entrance with
continuous window of 4 bays with different glazing pattern.
To the rear of the entrance a 2 storey range
extends northwards. South wall with tall stair window of 3
lights at first floor level, the mullions of the windows
expressed in brick within a recessed brick panel from above the
window head to the wall top. This range doubles in width at the
rear of the entrance bay and then extends eastwards at 2 storey
height and terminates at a tall square water tower which stands
forward of the main range. There is a tall transomed window
extending almost the full height of the east side wall.
An 'L' shaped single storey range, formerly
darkroom facilities for the colliery laboratory, extends
westwards. Interiors are much altered, but an extensive area of
shower and locker storage has survived, including the shower
attendants office.
HISTORY: The Chatteley Whitfield Colliery was in
the forefront of mine electrification in the early C20 and was
the first British colliery to produce in excess of a million
tons of coal a year, in 1937. Prior to the construction of the
bath house there were no washing facilities of any description
at the colliery. The present canteen entrance was formerly the
'Clean Entrance' leading to the clean lockers where miners would
leave their home clothes prior to collecting their pit gear from
the dirty lockers.
Forms a group with Administration and Office
Building.
The canteen and baths complex is of special
interest as a surviving example of large scale provision for
miners in the context of an advanced early C20 pit complex.
