Now Here - 3. Halls of Hope
Miners’ Institutes used to be the centre of every village across the South Wales coalfield. Paid for and built by the miners themselves, they were a place to organise, to meet and to learn.
When pit closures began, hundreds of these buildings were forced to close. These ruins of industrial culture are scattered across the landscape, acting as physical reminders of losses that reverberate through time.
For Cefn Fforest, a former mining community nestled deep in the Valleys, the discovery of their now crumbling Miners’ Institute tapped into something deep inside. In this episode, we speak to people living in the village about their memories of the building - the polished oak floors, grand halls and vast library - and their ambitions to rebuild the now derelict space.
Miners’ Institutes, along with miners’ hospitals and schools, were built long before the welfare state was introduced. Can the spirit of solidarity and autonomy within these walls shape the future?
Writer, producer and presenter: May Robson
Supervising Producer: Emily Esson
Sound Designer: Steve Urquhart
Theme Music: Contours
Executive Producer: Elizabeth Clark
Now Here is a BBC Scotland Production for BBC Sounds Audio Lab
Commissioning Editor: Khaliq Meer
Published on Thursday, 15th February 2024.
Available Podcasts from Now Here
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