TOKENS FROM HOMES FOR INEBRIATES

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V18 2015 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 18, Number 8, February 22, 2015, Article 22

By way of reciprocal challenge, does anyone know of any more pieces out there issued by homes for inebriates? Here's a uniface piece issued by the Dalrymple Home at Rickmansworth, Herts, which is about 20 miles or so NW of London:

David provided links to the following web pages with more information. Thanks. So... does anyone know of other tokens from homes for inebriates? I suppose Alcoholics Anonymous tokens (are there any?) would fit into this broad category, but I'm mainly curious about tokens from homes. With only 16 beds (at least at first), the Dalrymple Home was quite small, and thus its tokens are likely to be quite scarce. I've never seen this (or any similar) token before. -Editor

While drunkenness had traditionally been an accepted part of life in England, by the beginning of the 19th century, as the country industrialised, the need for a reliable, punctual workforce prompted a change of attitude. Social reformers, appalled by the drunkenness they witnessed in the streets of large cities and towns, began to campaign for greater restrictions on the sale of alcohol.

To read the complete article, see:
LOST HOSPITALS OF LONDON (http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/briefhistoryinebriates.html)

Following a public meeting at Mansion House in 1882, the Homes for Inebriates Association decided to establish a Home as a licensed charitable institution with a view to giving a fair trial to the Habitual Drunkards Act, 1879. For this purpose, the Association purchased The Cedars, a large stucco house situated on a 5-acre site with a finely wooded terrace overlooking the River Colne in the district of Money Hill.

In 1883 a license to admit 16 males under the Act was granted to Dr R.W. Braithwaite, the Medical Superintendent (increased to 20 males in the following year).

The Dalrymple Home for Inebriates opened in 1884 under the direction of the Homes for Inebriates Association. It was named after Dr Donald Dalrymple, M.P. for Bath, who had taken a great interest in the reclamation of inebriates and had tried to pass a Bill through Parliament in 1870. He was unsuccessful, and died prematurely in 1873, but the British Medical Association took up his campaign and set up a committee to continue his work.

Dr Dalrymple's widow donated £1,000 towards the establishment of the Home, which had 16 beds.

To read the complete article, see:
Dalrymple House (http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/dalrymplehouse.html)