Preston Abstinence Memorial
Preston Abstinence Memorial
Located in Preston Cemetery, this memorial, erected in 1859, commemorates the success of the Teetotal Movement. Preston was an early centre of the Temperance movement - the campaign against alcohol, which was the major mass-movement social campaign of the nineteenth century. At a meeting of the Preston Temperance Society in September 1832, the principle of 'Total Abstinence' was adopted. The memorial is surrounded by monuments to Temperance activists, including Joseph Livesey, the 'Father of Teetotalism'. There is also a monument to Edward Grubb, the last survivor of the 'Seven Men of Preston', who signed the first 'Total Abstinence' pledge in 1832. Grubb is actually buried in Harrogate, but there is a stone in Preston Cemetery that reproduces the inscription from his gravestone.
 |
| Preston Abstinence Memorial. Preston was a centre of the Temperance movement |
Uncovering England’s Secret and Unknown Memorials
During 2018 Historic England received hundreds of nominations from the public, as they shared their knowledge of local monuments, street shrines and community tributes.
Historic England made a request to the public to identify such tributes that may have been overlooked in previous listing exercises. Some of the nominated memorials are today listed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Public statues and monuments are under increasing scrutiny and Historic England asked the question, "how will we remember in the future?"
The Preston Abstinence Memorial is a Grade II Listed Building (List Entry Number 1458333) and was first listed on 24th July 2018.
It has the following inscription carved on it.
ERECTED 1859
TO COMMEMORATE THE
ORIGIN IN PRESTON OF TO
TAL ABSTINENCE FROM ALL
INTOXICATING LIQUOR
It seems unfortunate to have broken the word TOTAL in two, as it's really one of the key words.
 |
| Inscription on the Preston Abstinence Memorial Grade II Listed Building |
~
The Preston Abstinence Movement's History
The Preston Abstinence Memorial stands in the Preston General Cemetery (registered park and garden List entry number 1001617). Preston became known as the ‘Bethlehem’ of temperance in the first half of the nineteenth century. The movement existed to lessen the negative impacts of alcohol, primarily on the working and urban poor. The movement had greatest traction in the Unites States although it had popular following in the United Kingdom and in other countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It also had strong connections to various religious movements such as the Latter Day Saints and the Seven Day Adventists, who considered alcohol to contribute to a sinful existence and caused major damage to society at large.
Initially the movement had advocated moderation in consumption of alcohol. As the movement developed and gained momentum in the 1820s and 1830s this position hardened, especially as the problem was seen to be acute in urban areas and therefore needed more direct intervention and a tougher approach. In the United Kingdom this was initially manifested by the ‘Seven Men of Preston’, who were the first to sign a ‘Total Abstinence Pledge’ in August 1832. These men were Joseph Livesey, John King, John Gratex, Edward Dickinson, John Smith and David Anderton. Indeed the word ‘Teetotal’ is believed to have been coined in Preston by Richard Turner in 1833.
The memorial itself was erected in 1859, its funding spear-headed by a committee chaired by John Catterall. There was clearly some rivalry between different groups as the Committee were concerned that other towns were claiming the credit for teetotalism. They felt that the memorial would be a way to ensure their position was not challenged. The monument duly became a focus for commemoration for the movement and has been described as their ‘campo santo’. It is surrounded by the graves of several of the temperance movement including that of Joseph Livesey himself, who had become known as the ‘Father of Temperance’ and died in 1884. Others include John Catterall and Mary Graham who was a stalwart of the movement and became known as ‘Temperance Mary’ and the ‘Queen of the Teetotallers’. A copy of the gravestone of Edward Grubb, who was the last survivor of the group stands nearby although he is buried in Harlow Carr Cemetery, Harrogate.
Other monuments to the movement were established in the nineteenth century, and include an ornate fountain in Tompkins Square Park, New York, USA.
 |
| The Preston Abstinence Memorial in the ‘Bethlehem’ of temperance |
~
Further reading and sources of information
Preston’s Monument to its Trailblazing Temperance Campaigners
https://issuu.com/lancashiremag/docs/lm_july_21/s/12341302
.
Joseph Livesey’s Autobiography on the Preston History website
https://prestonhistory.com/preston-history-library/joseph-liveseys-autobiography/
.
The total abstinence movement found zealous propagation in Preston, which is popularly known as 'the birthplace of Teetotalism' — of the word at least
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol7/pp91-105
.
Preston Abstinence Memorial Listed on the National Heritage List for England
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1458333
.
Public Call-out Uncovers England’s Secret and Unknown Memorials
.
Fitzpatrick's 1890 - Britain's Last Original Temperance Bar
.
Post in the Preston History Facebook Group by Ashley Preston
https://www.facebook.com/groups/historyofpreston/permalink/450065900943124/
.
Comments
Post a Comment