Mr Fitzpatrick's Temperance Bar is the last remaining temperance bar in the UK. The same shop is clearly recognisable in this old photo which is on display inside the shop.
The temperance movement started in the mill towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire, with campaigners like cheese factor Joseph Livesey crusading against the evils of drink. If you've not read my post on Rossendale Farmers' Market, see here for my comments on Helmshore Mills Textile Museum.
The Fitzpatrick family came from Dublin. They were herbalists who migrated to Lancashire and started a chain of temperance bars. This bar was set up in Victorian times in what was then known as the 'one too many’ public house in Rawtenstall.
Besides drinks they sell all sorts of herbs and natural remedies for medicinal and culinary uses, like comfrey leaf and liquorice root.
They also have a popular selection of old fashioned sweets (like aniseed balls, army and navy tablets, bullseyes, coconut mushrooms, kopp kops, liquorice torpedos, pineapple chunks and toasted teacakes).
Drinks include Sarsaparilla, Dandelion and Burdock, Ginger Beer, Cream Soda, Lemon and Ginger and Blood Tonic!
The blood tonic sounds revolting, but has a raspberry bubble gum taste. It's made with rosehips, and is said to help if you have rheumatoid arthritis. The award winning Dandelion and Burdock is said to help improve your immune system and purify the blood!
Just the smell of some of these drinks will take you back to when you were a child!
I'll finish this post with their original temperance pledge:
"A pledge we make, no Wine to take
"A pledge we make, no Wine to take
No Brandy red that turns the head
Nor fiery Rum that ruins home
Nor Whiskey hot that turns the sot
Nor brewers Beer, for that we fear
Feel instead Fitzpatrick's cheer"
Fitzpatrick's
5 Bank Street
Rawtenstall
Rossendale
Lancashire
BB4 6QS
Tel: 01706 231836
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