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
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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.
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Roger Fern
27 Ladybank,
Chapel Park,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE5 1UJ.
Phone: (0191) 267-3074 (switched to fax when out)
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