WHEN Markham was built in 1913, it was the envy of communities all over Wales - primarily because it was the first mining village to have a bath in every property.

A cool £600,000, a couple of million in modern money, went on sinking the mine, which transformed it from a collection of hills above Blackwood to a thriving colliery employing 1,000 people.

The old and the young of the area gathered at Markham Institute on Friday, built in 1928 from workers wages, to launch a year of celebrations to mark the centenary.

While it is very much a Gwent Valleys village, its name has roots in Mansfield after the area’s Liberal MP Sir Arthur Markham, who helped fund it.

But, one man who is even more synonymous with the area than the person who actually gave it its name is councillor Leon Gardiner.

He has lived here since he was born 79 years ago and was working in the pit head baths at 13, before being allowed underground when he turned 14.

But, his family association goes back much further. He said: "My mother Myra Thomas lived in the only house here, Woodland Cottage, with her parents, seven sisters and four brothers.

"She used to tell me how they’d sit on the banking and watch them building the colliery, of the explosions when they were sinking it."

When the pit opened in 1913, people came from all South Wales to work there- including Cllr Gardiner’s dad, Sidney, who he followed to work underground.

Among the oldest residents are Lilly Summers, 91, her sister Audrey Edwards, 85 and Graham Lewis, 85, who described growing up with the only traffic in Markham one car and a motorbike and sidecar.

They described a picture house at the institute that was always full at weekends, sliding down the hills on pieces of cardboard and queues that stretched around the local co-operative as locals sought to buy groceries.

‘Losing the pit was like losing an arm’

Walter Hoskins, 75, was also working underground at 14 and he said: “I was the youngest of four brothers, so was always the last to get in the bath. I would be covered in dirt and dust and would be so tired, my mother would have to wash me.

"But, when they closed it, it was like taking my arm off. The camaraderie was unbelievable, we were like brothers and I’d go back today. I was lucky to get a job driving a limousine, but it was nowhere near as rewarding as underground."

His sentiments are echoed by Walter Williams, 65. He said: "There’s nothing here to be fair now. I feel sorry for the youngsters, we had work, but there’s nothing for them, not even factories. Supermarkets seem the only employers now."

A long-planned regeneration of the colliery site could bring new jobs, with a leisure park earmarked.

But, while the major employer went in the 1980s, the area continues to draw people in. Resident Helen Speck, 35, is from Zimbabwe.

She said: "My husband is from Cardiff, but we like this area. There is still a community feel, it may be fading, but you can still feel it. In a city, you don’t know your neighbour.

"It’s also a beautiful area and a great place to bring up our children."

Karen Stocker, 42, has also moved to the area from Somerset and described it as "beautiful" and “friendly".

So, while Markham’s first 100 years was dominated by the colliery, the renowned valleys spirit and scenery should be able to sustain it for at least another 100.