Not 100% sure what you are implying, in the mining areas I grew up in in the 50's /60/s Miners got a "free" issue of coal. It was dumped without the formality of being bagged on the pavement outside their house.
However most of the houses had a "Coalhouse". Local kids got the job for a few pennies to shovel up the coal and take into the "Coalhouse". (without spilling any, or any coal dust).
They new then that coal (energy) was precious.
How quaint is that? It was a quite a while before all this Peadophilia nonsense we have now.
I harbour no recollections of coal being kept in the bath, just as I equally have no recollections of baths being taken in the "Coalhouse".
I don't know what they did in London.
HTH
DG