The Cinema

More than 50% of both miners and housewives visited the cinema once a week or more, while there were some who said they went every day:

Analysis by age showed that frequency of attendance fell steadily with increasing age, the distribution in the 60-69 age-group being almost the exact reverse of that for the 20-29 age group.

age groups.

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

Never go

Less than once a month

are a month

2/3 times a week

Every day

Percentage

DIAGRAM 45 Miners and Housewives- frequency of attendance at the cinema. By Age.

The proportion who went to the cinema once a week, or once a month, showed the least variation throughout the age-groups. Those who said they went every day were most important in the 20-29 age-group; in older groups these were a very small proportion of the total sample. Those who said they never visited the cinema increased steadily with age.

The distance of the cinema from the home had some influence upon frequency of attendance, although this influence was most noticeable at the extremes, where the cinema was 1/8 - ¼ of a mile, or over 3½ miles, from home. Those who lived 1/8 or ¼ of a mile from the cinema visited it slightly more frequently, while those living over 3½ miles away visited it less frequently. Between these extremes, distance appeared to have little influence upon frequency of attendance.

DIAGRAM 46 : Miners and Housewives frequency of attendance at the Cinema, by distance from home

About two-thirds of the miners and the housewives walked to the cinema, the remainder usually going there by bus or tram. The number who used the railway, or a bicycle, to get to the cinema were negligible. Rather fewer of the younger miners walked to the cinema that the older men. In the case of the housewives, this tendency was reversed:

Those who did not visit the cinema, or who had to travel over 3½ miles to visit it, were asked if there were one in their neighbourhood, and if not, whether they who never went to the cinema said that there was not one near them, but that they would like to have one. On the other hand, of those who had to travel over 3½ miles to the cinema, 46% said they would like to have a cinema in their own neighbourhood:

It may be assumed, therefore, that those who did not visit the cinema at all generally did so from choice, and not because the place was inconvenient. On the other hand, nearly half of those who had to travel over 3½ miles said they would prefer a cinema in their own neighbourhood. Presumably these would visit the cinema more frequently if they had one placed conveniently to their home.

Theatre and Music Hall

Whereas about 20% of housewives and miners never visited the cinema three times as many never visited the theatre or music hall. Those who did visit the theatre went there far less frequently than to the cinema, the majority going only once a month or less.

Analysis by age showed a steady increase in the proportion who never went to the theatre as age increased. In all age-groups more housewives than miners never went at all. Among the miners, frequency of attendance at the theatre was not influenced greatly by the age of individual, although amongst the housewives frequency declined with age quite consistently:

Of those who visited the theatre, 94% lived more than 3½ miles from it, with no significant differences between age groups in the distance travelled. This is no doubt due to the absence of a theatre in all, or most, of the places visited, so that a visit to the theatre would necessitate a journey of some length to the nearest large urban centre possessing a theatre. This partly confirmed by the fact that only 2% walked to the theatre, compared with 66% who walked to the cinema. Bus, tram or train were used by 96% of the miners and 93% of the housewives, who went to the theatre:

There is no information on the reasons for going to the theatre. It may be that, for a considerable number, the theatre has an attraction, not possessed by the cinema, strong enough to make people prepared to travel long distances to reach it. It seems more likely, however, that a visit to the theatre is combined with a periodical trip to the nearest urban centre. The theatre would then become merely one of the enjoyments of the trip, while its attraction in isolation might not be sufficiently strong to encourage many to make the journey very often.

On the other hand, a large proportion of those who never visited the theatre said that they would like to have one in their own neighborhood, as did also those who had to travel over 3½ miles to visit it:

It seems, then, that the addition of a theatre would, in most mining communities, be a popular move, which would receive the support of the large proportion of people who at present never visit the theatre because it is too far away.

The Dance Hall

More than three-quarters of both miners and housewives said that they never visited the dance hall:

It will be seen that more housewives than miners never visited the dance hall. Analysis by age showed that this sex difference was confined to the 20-29 age-group, the proportions in the older groups being approximately equal. As a form of entertainment, dancing was clearly almost a monopoly of the younger people. Two-thirds of the miners and three-quarters of the housewives walked to proportion of miners who walked to the dance hall is probably explained by the fact that a considerable number travelled over 3½ miles to it, while few of the housewives travelled so far.

An insignificant proportion (3%) who never went to the dance hall said that there was not one in their neighbourhood, but that they would like to have one there.

The Library

The majority of both miners and housewives never visited the library at all. Those who did make use of the library visited it fairly frequently, once a week or more, and only a small proportion made occasional, monthly visits:

Analysis by age showed that the library was used most by miners and housewives in the 20-29 and, more especially, the 30-39 age groups. Among the housewives, the library was used with markedly decreasing frequency after the age of 40, and a similar tendency is discernable in the miners sample, although here it was less marked. On the whole, while age appears to influence the use of the library considerably among housewives, there is a fairly stable proportion of miners making use of it at all ages, except in the 30-39 age-group, which shows an increase:

Housewives Miners

Age Groups

60-69

50-59

40-49

30-39

20-29

Percentage

DIAGRAM 47: Miners and Housewives who visited the Library Once in a week o more by Age.

About three-quarters of those visiting the library lived at a distance of half a mile, or less, from it. Above 3 ½ miles, the proportion who visited a library was very small- 2% of the miners, and 4% of the housewives:

As might be expected, the majority walked to the library. More than twice as many housewives as miners, however, used the bus or tram to get to the library:

Of the miners, 8%, and of the housewives, 3%, who never visited the library said they did not have one in their neighbourhood, but that they would like one there. The number who travelled over 3½ miles to the library was too small to permit further analysis on this point. Even with maximum convenience, then, it appears that not more than about one third of miners or housewives would make use of the library.

Place of worship

About half the housewives, and as many as two-thirds of the miners, said that they never visited a place of worship. The largest single category of those who did go were those who went once a week:

The following Diagram shows the age distribution of those who said they went to a place of worship:

Housewives Miners

Age Groups

60-69

50-59

40-49

30-39

20-29

Percentage

DIAGRAM 48 : Miners and Housewives who attended a place of worship once a week or more, By Age

It will be seen that at all ages (except the 20-29 age-group) more housewives than miners attended a place of worship. Among the miners there was a marked decrease in the proportion going in the 30-39 age-group. Apart from this, however, the miners show a fairly steady proportion who went, at all ages. In the case of the housewives, on the other hand, the proportion who visited a place of worship once a week or more increased steadily with age, with the single exception of the 60-69 age-group, where the proportion decreased slightly, probably because of increasing infirmity,

For the majority who went, the place of worship was easily reached. Over half lived within ½ a mile of it:

As a result, most who went to a place of worship walked to it:

An insignificant proportion of both miners and housewives who never visited a place of worship said that there was not one in their neighbourhood, but that they would like one there.

Church Social Activities

Of the housewives, 24% said they attended church social activities. Only 9% of the miners attended them:

Age analysis showed that church social activities were most popular in the 40-45 age-group, although this was more marked among the housewives than the miners:

Distances of over 300 yards appeared to discourage miners more frequently from attending church social activities than they discouraged housewives:

The majority of both housewives (84%) and miners (80%) walked to the place where the church social activities took place.

Of those who never went to church social activities, only 1% of miners and 2% of housewives said that these were not available in their neighbourhood, but that they would like to have them there.

Football

It appears from this inquiry that, in the Scottish mining areas, watching football is almost entirely a miners’ recreation: over the whole housewives' sample, 98% said they never went to a football match, this proportion falling to 94% in the 20-29 age-group, and rising to 99% in the 50-59 and 60-69 age-groups.

In the following analyses, therefore, the figures referring to the miners only have been used, and those for the housewives ignored.

The following Diagram shows on one side those miners who visited a football match once a week or more, and, on the other, those who went once a month or less, analysed by age.

Once a week or more Once a month or less

Age Groups

60-69

50-59

40-49

30-39

20-29

Percentage

DIAGRAM 49 : Miners who attended the football matches By Age

It will be seen that the proportion of miners who made frequent visits to football (once a week or more) declined steadily with age. Those who went less frequently (once a month or less) formed a more or less stable proportion of miners at all ages, although it increased slightly in the 40-49 and 50-59 age-groups. It appears that watching football is a popular form of entertainment for Scottish miners at all ages, which, because it is not an active pastime, can be enjoyed by the old as well as the young.

About one-half of those who watched football travelled over 3½ miles to see it. Long-distance travel, however, was more frequent among those who went less often.

There was little age difference, however, in the proportion who travelled over 3½ miles, except in the 40-49 age-group, where long distance travel was less common:

The proportion who walked to the football ground increased with age. It can be seen from the preceding table that while this can be explained in part by a slightly greater proportion of young people who travelled 2 miles or more, there appears to remain a residual group of young miners who prefer to use transport for distance which older miners are prepared to walk.

Of the miners who never visited football matches, 8% said that such facilities were not available in their neighbourhood, but that they would like to have them there. Of those miners who said they travelled over 3½ miles to visit football matches, a large proportion (20%) said that such facilities were not available in their own neighbourhood, but that they would like to have them. None of the housewives who did not go, or who travelled over 3½ miles, said they would like better facilities in their own neighbourhood.

Horse and Dog Racing.

As with football, watching horse and dog racing is almost entirely a miner’s recreation - only 2% of the housewives said they went.

Even among the miners, however, this is a minority interest, as many as 80% saying that they never went at all:

The following Diagram shows frequency of attending horse and dog racing analysed by age:

Once a week or more Once a month or less

Age Groups

60-69

50-59

40-49

30-39

20-29

Percentage

DIAGRAM 50 : Miners who attended horse or dog racing By Age

It is clear that horse and dog racing is most popular in the 30-39 age group, which had the largest proportion going once a week or more, and the largest proportion who went, but less frequently. In all age-groups, the proportion who went once a month or less was greater than the proportion who went more frequently. In the oldest, 60-69 age-group the proportion going once a week or more was of negligible importance.

More than half of those who went travelled over 3½ miles:

In consequence of the long distance travelled, the majority used the bus, tram or train to reach the course:

Only an insignificant proportion of miners and housewives who never went, or travelled over 3½ miles, to horse and dog racing said they did not have such facilities in their own neighbourhood, but would like to have them there.

Participation in Outdoor Sports

Housewives were not asked if they participated in outdoor sports. Of the miners, 78% said they did not participate. This proportion, as might be expected, increased with age:

There was no variation in the proportion who went once a month, although the proportion at all ages was only 2%. Most appeared to go once a week or more, this proportion decreasing with age.

The majority of these participating either travelled ¼ mile or less, or over 3½ miles, to reach the field:

The majority walked, but quite a considerable proportion used bus, tram or train:

Of the miners who did not participate in outdoor sports, only 3 % said that they would like facilities in their own neighbourhood, where they did not exist at present.

Miners'Welfare - Indoor Activities

Only 5% of the housewives said they took part in Miners’ Welfare indoor activities. It was more popular with the miners themselves however:

It will be seen that about one-third went to these activities once a week or more.

The following Diagram shows frequency analysed by age:

Once a week or more once a month or less

Age Groups.

60-69

50-59

40-49

30-39

20-24

Percentage

DIAGRAM 51 : Miners who took part in Miners' Welfare Institute indoor activities. By Age

It was in the 20-29 age-group that the largest proportion of miners took part, but after 30 years of age the proportion decreased with age. In all age-groups, the proportion who went only once a month or less was smaller than those going once a week or more, although there was a slight increase in the latter proportion in the 30-39 and the 60-69 age-groups.

Analysis by distance showed that frequency declined consistently as distance increased. The majority (83%) of those going lived within ½ mile of the Institute:

As would be expected, almost all (92%) walked to the Institute:

Of the housewives who did not go, 5%, and of the miners who did not go, 23%, said that facilities did not exist in their neighbourhood, but that they would like to have them there.

Miners' Welfare- Outdoor Activities

Of the housewives, 99% and of the miners, 95% said they never took part in the outdoor activities of the Miners’ Welfare Institute:

The total number of those taking part was too small to permit any further analysis.

2% of the housewives, and 6% of the miners, who did not take part in Miners’ Welfare Outdoor activities, said that facilities were not available in their neighbourhood, but that they would like to have them there.

Miners’ Welfare – Working Men’s Club

Only 4% of miners said they attended a working men’s club (housewives were not asked about this). There were no significant age differences:

The total figures for those who went to a working men’s club were too small to permit further analysis.

18% of the miners who did not go to a working men’s club said that such facilities were not available in their neighbourhood, but that they would like to have them there.

Political and Union Meetings

Over one-third of the miners said they attended political and union meetings. Only 3% of the housewives attended them. The younger miners had a slightly smaller proportion who attended them:

More than half the miners travelled only ¼ mile or less to attend these meetings; above this distance the proportion who went decreased slightly as distance from home increased:

The majority who went to political and union meetings walked to them:

Of the miners who did not go, 3% said that facilities were not available in their neighbourhood but that they would like to have them. No housewives mentioned this.

The Public House

Housewives were not asked about the public house. Of the miners, only 37% said they never visited it:

The following Diagram shows frequency analysed by age. It will be seen that at all ages more of those visiting the public house went there once a week or more, than went there once a month or less. There was also a general tendency for the proportion of miners visiting the public house to increase with age.

Once a week or more Once a month or less

Age Groups

60-69

50-59

4-49

30-39

20-29

Percentage

DIAGRAM 52 : Miners who visited the Public House. By Age

Two-thirds of those visiting the public house lived within ¼ mile of it:

The majority (86%) walked to the public house, only 12% using the bus or tram, and none using the train or the bicycle.

None of the miners who did not go said that a public house was not available in their neighbourhood.

The Local Shopping Centre

Only 10% of the housewives sample said they never visited the local shopping centre (miners were not asked about this) Almost half the housewives visited it every day, while 77% visited it two to three times a week or more:

It will be seen that the proportion visiting it once a month or less is negligible. The figures as a whole suggest that housewives either visit the local shopping centre once a week or more, or they never visit it at all.

The Diagrams which follow show (a) the various frequency categories analysed by age, and (b) age-groups analysed by frequency:

DIAGRAM 53(a) : Frequency of visiting Local Shopping centre, By Age

DIAGRAM 53(b) : Age Groups visiting Local Shopping centre, By Frequency

It is clear that the local shopping centre is visited less frequently with age. This is especially marked amongst those visiting it every day. Among those visiting it 2-3 times a week, however, there appears to be no consistent trend, except that those in the 30-39 and 60-69 age-groups visited it with this frequency more often than any other age-groups. In the case of the 30-39 age-group this increased proportion is balanced by the smaller proportion of this age who visited it once a week. There was a general tendency for the proportion who never went to the local shopping centre to increase with age: the 50-59 age-group had an outstandingly large proportion who said they did not go. Except for the 30-39 age-group (already mentioned) the proportion who went once a week was roughly the same at all ages.

72% of the housewives travelled ¼ mile of less to reach their local shopping centre. Very few travelled more than one mile:

The majority of housewives walked to their local shopping centre:

10% of the housewives who never went to the local shopping centre said that facilities were not available in their neighbourhood but that they would like to have them there.

The Main Shopping Centre

The main shopping centre, as might be expected, was visited less frequently than the local centre. The following Diagram compares the two shopping centres in terms of the frequency with which they were visited.

Local Shopping Centre Main Shopping Centre

Never go

Less than once a month

Once a month

Once a week

2-3 times a week

Every day

Percentage

DIAGRAM 54 : Housewives – Frequency of visiting the main and the local shopping centres.

Only a relatively small proportion of housewives visited the main shopping centre more than once a week, compared with the majority who visited the local centre with this frequency. Most (34%) visited the main shopping centre once a month or less, while only 1% visited the local centre so infrequently. Those going once a week constituted 28% of those visiting the main shopping centre, but only 12% of those visiting the local shopping centre.

In general, there was a more even distribution among the various frequency categories of those visiting the main shopping centre than was the case with those going to the local centre.

75% of housewives travelled 2 miles or more to the main shopping centre:

Three-quarters of the housewives used bus or tram to reach the main shopping centre:

Of the housewives who did not go to the main shopping centre, 10%, and of those who travelled over 3½ miles to it, 14% said that such a shopping centre was not available locally but that they would like to have one in their neighbourhood.

Co-operative Guild

Only 8% of the housewives said they ever visited the Co-operative Guild:

The Guild was visited most frequently by the middle-aged housewives in the 40-49 age-group:

Of the small group who went to the Guild, 64% lived within ¼ mile, and 77% within ½ mile of it. All but 7% (using bus or tram) walked to the Co-operative Guild.

3% of the housewives who did not go said that there was no Co-operative Guild in their neighbourhood but that they would like to have one.

Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic

Only 12% of the housewives said they visited a maternity and child welfare clinic:

Of those who went to the clinic, 83% lived within one mile of it. 77% walked to the clinic, the remainder using the bus or tram.

6% of the housewives who did not visit a maternity and child welfare clinic said that there was not one available in their neighbourhood, but that they would like to have one.

Conclusions

1. The social facilities most essential to Scottish miners and housewives were five in number. Two-thirds or more of the housewives went to the local shopping centre, the main shopping centre, and the cinema. Two-thirds or more of the miners went to the cinema, football, and the public house. Other social activities were only minority (although sometimes fairly large minority) interests.

2. In the case of all these popular facilities, except the public house, a large proportion who never went, or who travelled over 3 1/2 miles to reach them, asked for them to be placed more conveniently to their own neighbourhood. In the case of the theatre and the music hall, while this was a minority interest, a considerable proportion apparently did not go because it was placed inconveniently to their home. Better theatre facilities in the mining areas would probably convert this into a majority interest.

3. While very few miners or housewives thought they would like to have additional social and recreational facilities (except those already mentioned), this is not conclusive evidence that such facilities would not be used if they existed. Lacking experience, as most mining families do, of many of the facilities discussed above, it was probably difficult for them to realise what their presence would mean to them. A strong case can therefore be made for the provision of such facilities in new mining townships irrespective of the present apathy in regard to them. Attractively designed, well organised and conveniently placed, they would probably soon become popular even with those who, at the time of this inquiry, expressed no interest in them.