Old Images of Bootle, Merseyside

Historic Book

Extract from “The Coffee public-house news”

Published in 1885

Pages 18 & 19

“The Chairman proposed the next sentiment ,
” Success to the Borough of Bootle . ” The Chairman
said that the most magnificent docks in the world
were to be seen in the borough of Bootle , and the
mightiest steamers afloat were to be seen within those
enclosed docks . Those steamers poured upon these
shores the produce of the world , and this had neces
sitated such enormous railway services as were to be
found nowhere else in Lancashire . In addition to
that there were in the borough large engineering
works necessary for making the repairs required from
time to time by steamers berthed in the docks . On
all sides there were in Bootle the signs of great and
increasing prosperity . It was within the memory of
many present , that , before the docks were made , the
waters washed the shore of Bootle Bay , and he was
not sure that they did not wash over the very site of
the house in which they were now assembled . It
would be a grievance to Liverpool if , in the Redistri
bution Act , which was to be passed in the next session
of Parliament , Bootle were not granted the privilege
of separate representation in Parliament . Bootle was
worthy of the privilege , and they would all unite in
wishing prosperity to the borough , and in joining with
the sentiment the name of his Worship the Mayor ,
who had so kindly graced their proceedings with his
presence .
The Mayor , who was loudly applauded on rising
to respond , said that they would all benefit if Bootle
prospered . He also joined in the wish which had
been so cordially expressed by the chairman , that
Bootle should have a Member of Parliament of its
own . There was no doubt in his mind that the
borough was fully entitled to separate Parliamentary
representation . He had lately been in London as one

The
of a deputation , whose purpose was to urge upon the
Government , and those who had the matter in hand ,
the claims of Bootle to be allowed this privilege .
The deputation represented to the authorities that
there was no other place in the kingdoin which was
progressing so rapidly either in population or in
rateable value . They had in Bootle the largest docks
in the world , the largest steamships in the world ,
they had some of the largest engineering works , and
he believed that the largest warehouses in the king .
dom were now being erected in Bootle .
deputation also pointed out to the authorities that
the borough had already handsome municipal
buildings , and that they were about providing baths
and washhouses , a free public library , and other
public requirements , which would complete their
municipal institutions ; and on all these grounds they
urged that Bootle was entitled to a Member of its
own . If they had thought of the matter in another
light they might also have pointed out that Bootle
had likewise the most commodious Coffee – palace in
the world , and that fact might have had some influence .
He believed that if the matter were properly placed
before the Government and the Boundary Com
missioners the young and plucky borough would be
made complete not only in a municipal but in a
Parliamentary sense .

Mr. T. P. Danson , J.P. , said that he had great
pleasure in proposing the next sentiment , which was
Success to the British Workman Public – House Com
pany , ” as represented by that beautiful building in
which they were now assembled . He considered that
hall to be an ornament to their rising borough , and in
connection with this toast it would be wrong to omit
mention of his respected friend Mr. J. Francis Doyle ,
the architect , under whose auspices that beautiful and
well – adapted building had been erected . Mr. Doyle
seemed fully equal to any task imposed upon him . Not
long ago he ( Mr. Danson ) was in a very beautiful
church , which had been designed by Mr. Doyle . Now
he was present in that handsome workman’s hall ,
designed with the same skill and by the same architect ,
It had been inferred during the proceedings that even .
ing , that the fact of the Company paying dividends was
thought by some persons to be in some way discredit
able to them . On the contrary , nothing could be more
satisfactory than the fact that such institutions as that
in which they were now gathered should be supported
by the pennies of the working men , instead of by those
guinea subscriptions with which many of them were
only too well acquainted . No one could go round the
borough and see the miserable holes in which too many
working men were obliged to collect to get their dinners ,
without recognising the necessity for a house of this
kind . That light and airy and beautiful hall would be
an antidote to this sort of thing , and he was especially
pleased to hear the Chairman state , that even men who
had no money to spend would be welcome to come in
and warm themselves and read the newspapers free of
charge . This would be a great boon to the numbers of
men whom they now saw loitering at the corners of
the streets , or sitting about on baulks of timber . He
also believed that this Coffee – house would prove an
education to workmen as to how to live . The problem
was not so much a question of food .

Let them go into the back slums and see the prevailing squalor and dirt ,
and they would understand that this in itself was an
incentive to drunkenness . Put these same men in clean

places and they would feel some inducement to keep
sober . Only recently they had seen a column in one
of the newspapers under the heading of ” Brutal
Bootle . ” It was their duty to do their best to remedy
such a state of things as that . Drunkenness was an
ancient habit , which extended from the time of Noah
to that of James I. , who , in spite of his love for
ecclesiastical controversy , was said to have been often

carried to bed in a state of insensibility . If his sacred
majesty could have got a good cup of tea or coffee
probably this would never have happened . The social
historian of the eighteenth century – and it was the
social history of a people which was of the most value
informed them that after the introduction of tea and
coffee as beverages towards the close of the seventeenth
century , there was a great diminution of drunkenness .
If it had that effect then , when it was scarce and
dear , how much greater should beits effect now , when
it was so remarkably cheap !
The Chairman said that he would ask Mr. Poulsom
to respond to this sentiment , as one of the best friends
he knew to the working classes , and one whom Bootle
had to thank more than anyone else for the erection
of that building .

Alderman Poulsom , in responding , said that he did
not see why he should be called upon to speak a second
time when there were so many of his co – directors
around him , but he was grateful for the opportunity
under the present circumstances of being able to re
spond on behalf of the British Workman Public – House
Company on this occasion . He had taken an interest
for many years in public and social movements in
Bootle . It was not fifty yards from that place where
himself , Mr. Samuel Smith , Dr. Sprakeling , Mr. Cotton ,
and he did not know how many more , went to look for
wives . In connection with the toast , his friend Mr.
Danson had referred to that building . He believed
that it was a building of which they need not be
ashamed , and he sincerely hoped that it would answer
the purpose for which it was intended . Mr. Doyle had
managed his part of the work with sound judgment and skill.
He had been called upon to utilise every
yard of space , for the site was a peculiar one to deal
with , but they had certainly got the most for their
money . The Bootle Coffee – house had been well and
faithfully built . They had not gone in so much for
ornament , but they had made the building substantial .
Thanks were due to the builders and to the British
public who had encouraged them to build . It was a
fact , a most satisfactory fact , that houses of this kind
were better appreciated by the workmen in that port
than anywhere else in the kingdom . The first sugges
tion for the establishment of such houses was made by
their good friend the Rev. Charles Garrett , at one of
Messrs . Moody and Sankey’s earlier meetings in Liver
pool , where Mr. Garrett pointed out that workmen
along the line of docks had generally to sit down on a
bale of cotton to get their meals . As a consequence of
that , a meeting was called , at which he ( Mr. Poulsom )
was among those who were present . They were asked
the question what they should do to meet such a need .
Their good friend Mr. Lockhart went to Bristol , where ,
they heard something was being done , and he came
back with the idea of establishing Cocoa – rooms . They
tried to meet the public want , and they had now gone
beyond the point of the mere provision of tea and
coffee , and buns and sweets . He believed they had
gone on the right course , for people could not live on
cakes , but required more substantial food . They had
provided for them substantial food , and they had made
these houses as attractive as possible . It had been
mentioned that though they had not started with the
idea of making money , the houses had proved self
supporting , and he thanked God that this was so . By
making them self – supporting they made them per
manent . They had provided for the public want , they
had removed from working men the necessity of going
to the public – houses , and in so doing they had been
well , rewarded . The Company was not only doing a
large business itself , but they were leading others into
the track they had followed , and the public would reap
the benefit . At one time it was a question whether
they should go halfway on the track of philanthropy ,
and accept whatever subscriptions were offered to
them . They determined , however , to establish those

houses on strict business principles , and they had seen
no reason to regret their determination . They had been
careful , however , to gather about them a staff of officials
of reliable and sober principle – total abstainers – who
would go in and out before those with whom they did
business , and show by their own example the value of
the principles they desired to promote . He believed
that by this course these houses had been established
upon a more permanent basis than if they had been
merely conducted as a philanthropic enterprise .”