Mr Fitzpatrick's Temperance Bar

FRIDAY

A day off work with blue skies and sunshine.

I headed over to the Dark Side to check out the Diesel Gala at the East Lancs Heritage Railway (see extra). I caught a vintage diesel  train from Ramsbottom to Hopwood (purely for the experience as passenger trains do not normally run beyond Heywood),  then spent half an hour on the platform at Bury watching an assortment of diesel locos, before heading back to "Rammy".  Annoyingly I left my camera on the train so had to chase the it to the end of the line at Rawtenstall.

Whilst in Rawtenstall I took the opportunity to visit the famous "Mr Fitzpatrick's Temperance Bar" where I had a one of the best-ever ginger beers and cake. - see details below.

A further stop at the equally famous Chocolate Cafe in Ramsbottom on the way home.

Reunited with my camera.

Fitzpatrick's is Britain's Last Original Temperance Bar. The temperance movement began in Preston in 1835 during the period of the industrial revolution and was a response to the widespread alcoholism that existed at that time. The availability of cheap ale and gin had been responsible for the breakdown of family life and industrial productivity amongst the working classes. Prohibition was never legalised here but non alcoholic bars began to appear in every town and village to promote abstinence from the 'demon drink'. By the 1890's temperance bars graced every high street the most prominent being Mr Fitzpatrick's - a successful family of Dublin herbalists who established themselves in the North of England and at their peak successfully ran over 40 shops in the region. One Temperance Bar survived and today Fitzpatrick's still owns and operates the little Victorian bar  in the Lancashire town of Rawtenstall. 

The spread of the global coronavirus outbreak is becoming concerning. I've ordered some zinc and vitamin D supplements as they are supposed to help the immune system.