For many individuals, the onset of the new year marks the beginning of Dry January, a challenge where participants commit to refraining from alcohol until February.
As the month continues with its numerous chilly days, some may find their resolve starting to wane.
Yet, for those in London who are having difficulty staying committed, a look at their surroundings could serve as a source of motivation.
In the 19th century, a significant social movement swept across the United Kingdom, with millions dedicating themselves to a life of abstinence from alcohol, profoundly influencing their communities.
In light of the rampant alcoholism linked to societal issues and poverty at the beginning of the 1800s, reformers began to oppose drinking.
By the 1830s, temperance societies had emerged, composed of individuals who pledged to live alcohol-free lives. These groups not only supported others affected by alcohol but also campaigned for restrictions on its sale and consumption.
Over the following century, millions would take the same pledge, making the Temperance movement one of the most significant social initiatives in England at that time.
In response to the demand for spaces devoid of alcohol, an alternative environment began to flourish, providing both goods and services.
Alcohol-free concert venues were established to offer entertainment, while coffee houses provided an alternative to traditional pubs.
Additionally, there were hospitals that admitted only those who abstained from alcohol, as well as insurance companies that catered solely to teetotalers.
At the peak of the movement, between 1880 and 1914, around 500 Temperance hotels dotted the country, many of which were located in London.
Although many of these establishments have been lost to time, a new book titled *The Built Heritage of the Temperance Movement: ‘The Way Out of Darkest England’* by Andrew Davison of Historic England sheds light on this concealed aspect of history still evident in Britain.
Davison’s research has “uncovered one of the most remarkable yet overlooked chapters in English social and architectural history.”
He notes that the Temperance movement fostered a parallel universe that influenced every facet of Victorian life, yet the origins of many of these structures remain largely unrecognized.
The book highlights several enduring examples in the capital.
While numerous people frequent it daily, few might be aware that The Old Vic theatre played a pivotal role in promoting teetotalism.
Originally opened in 1818, the venue was revitalized in 1879-80 by social reformer Emma Cons, who transformed it into the Royal Victoria Coffee Music Hall, providing “pure entertainment” free of alcohol to working-class viewers.
Further south lies the Brixton Temperance Billiard Hall, one of over 20 establishments created by Temperance Billiard Halls Ltd in the capital, which combined billiards with cafés and shops, offering working-class individuals an alternative to the pub-centric leisure culture of the time.
On the eastern edge of the city is Butler’s Retreat in Chingford, a venue catering to visitors of Epping Forest with non-alcoholic refreshments.
Moreover, public drinking fountains, like the Burdett-Coutts Memorial Drinking Fountain in Victoria Park, underscore the reformers’ efforts to provide clean water as a substitute for beer.
For Davison, these sites serve as vital reminders of a significant yet largely forgotten chapter in British history.
“Each surviving Temperance building connects us with predecessors who fervently believed in their ability to improve society,” he states.
