28/05/2026
A wyddoch chi...yn ei lyfr 'These Poor Hands' (1939), disgrifiodd Bert Coombes y Baddondai Pen Pwll fel "Peiriant ymolch enfawr lle byddai'r glowyr brwnt yn mynd i mewn a rhai glan yn dod allan y pen arall!"?
Roedd Coombes yn awdur a aned yn Lloegr a symudodd i Resolfen cyn y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf a threuliodd y rhan fwyaf o'i fywyd gwaith ym maes glo de Cymru. Ysbrydolodd ei brofiadau weithiau pwerus a enillodd barch dwfn gan lowyr am ei bortread gonest o fywyd y pwll glo.
Yn ein harddangosfa Baddonau Pen y Pwll yn Big Pit rydym yn falch o daflu goleuni ar lowyr a rannodd eu talentau gyda'r byd - gan ddathlu eu creadigrwydd, eu dylanwad a'r straeon a adawsant ar eu hôl.
Yn ogystal â'r sgiliau anhygoel sydd eu hangen i weithio dan ddaear, roedd llawer hefyd yn artistiaid, cantorion, awduron, actorion, beirdd a chwaraewyr dawnus - roedd creadigrwydd yn rhan enfawr o fywyd y glofa.
Mae’r delweddau hyn o’n harchif yn darlunio’r bywyd a fu’n sail i’w ysgrifennu.
📸 1-5: Detholiad o ddelweddau archif o Big Pit, 1940-1979.
📸 6-7: Loceri Big Pit nawr, yn cynnwys locer Bert Coombes.
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Did you know...that Bert Coombes in his book 'These poor Hands' (1939) described the Pit Head Baths as "Huge washing machines in which dirty miners went in at one end and clean ones came out the other!"
Coombes, was an English‑born writer who moved to Resolven before WWI and spent most of his working life in the south Wales coalfield. His experiences inspired powerful works which earned deep respect from miners for its honest portrayal of pit life.
At our Pit Head Baths exhibition at Big Pit we’re proud to shine the light on the miners who shared their talents with the world, celebrating their creativity, influence and the stories they left behind.
As well as the incredible skills needed to work underground, many miners were also gifted artists, singers, writers, actors, poets and sportsmen, creativity was a huge part of colliery life.
These images from our archive capture the life that shaped his writing.
📸 1-5: Selection of archive images from Big Pit, 1940-1979.
📸 6-7: Big Pit lockers now, featuring Bert Coombes locker.