If there was a periodical called British Workman, then the British Library
ought to have a set, perhaps at their newspaper library at Colindale
(somewhere I have never visited).
Peter King
----- Original Message -----
From: ROGER.WILLIAM.FERN <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 07 February 2000 14:55
Subject: 1. British Workman 2. "RSO"
> BRITISH WORKMAN
> ----------------------------
>
> In the first instance, I'm asking this on behalf of a friend, but I'm
> interested to know the answer myself.
>
> This friend has come across the fact that a building in Low Fell
> (Gateshead) was, about 1870, a "British Workman". (Another contact
> knows of another "British Workman" in the lead mining area of
> Teesdale.) She (and I) would like to know more about this phenomenon.
>
> We are already clear (or clearish) about the following:
>
> 1. "British Workmen" were fairly certainly a chain of temperance
> cafes, aimed at keeping the labouring classes away from the demon
> drink.
>
> 2. They were probably fairly short-lived.
>
> 3. There was a periodical called "The British Workman" running from
> (I think) 1855 to 1921, which may have been connected with the cafes
> in some way.
>
> Enquiries have thrown up very little about this organisation (or
> whatever it was). Apparently, standard histories of the Temperance
> Movement say nothing (or very little) about it. We would like to
> know, if possible, among other things:
>
> a. Was it just a North of England phenomenon ?
>
> b. What were its precise dates ?
>
> c. What were its precise origins ? Did it have Methodist
> connections, perhaps ? Or Salvation Army ?
>
> d. What became of it ? Was it absorbed by something else ? Or did
> it just collapse ?
>
> e. Names of prominent people (perhaps there weren't any ?) connected
> with it.
>
> f. Standard reference books which we ought to have looked in
> already, but haven't.
>
> g. Is it worth looking for archives ? (National Register of
> Archives or something ?)
>
> h. Anything else that people might know about it.
>
> R.S.O. -- ABBREVIATION
> ----------------------------------
>
> While I'm addressing the list, there's a completely different minor
> question that I would like to ask. About 100 years ago, people's
> addresses were sometimes given followed by the abbreviation "R.S.O."
> (It seems to occur with the addresses of minor gentry living in the
> country.) Its meaning must have been obvious at the time, and is
> probably obvious to everyone but me on the list. Can anyone enlighten
> me, please ? (There's probably an obvious source of information which
> I haven't looked in - sorry in advance.)
>
> Keep up the good work.
>
> Roger Fern.
> ______________________________
>
> Roger Fern
>
> 27 Ladybank,
> Chapel Park,
> Newcastle upon Tyne,
> NE5 1UJ.
>
> Phone: (0191) 267-3074 (switched to fax when out)
>
> [log in to unmask]
> ______________________________
>
>
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