Mr Fitzpatricks Vintage Cordials

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. Prohibition was never legislated here but non alcoholic bars sprang up to promote abstinence from the ‘demon drink’.


The Temperance movement started and continued to blossom in the textile districts of Yorkshire and Lancashire in the 19th century and later swept across the whole of Britain, with the aim of combating alcoholism. It was in fact alcohol that was one of the greatest problems facing the Industrial powerhouse which was Victorian Britain. During the Industrial Revolution, these regions experienced a massive population influx. The cheap availability of ale and gin led to widespread drunkenness.


It was a Methodist cheese maker in Preston, Lancashire, who set about establishing a society under which a pledge of abstemiousness was taken. The society quickly grew and expanded beyond the churches and became part of the everyday life for the sober British. Temperance bars became the social outlet of the society where they would sing songs about the ‘demon drink’ and enjoy sarsaparilla and ginger beer, in’ joyful fashion’. By the 1880’s temperance bars graced every high in street in the north of England. The most prominent being Mr Fitzpatrick's – a family of Dublin herbalists who established themselves in the North of England and at their peak successfully ran over 40 shops in the region.

Sadly after the World War 11 interest in ‘taking the pledge’ faded. The end of prohibition in the US and the heavy importation of sweet, sugary drinks hitting our shores saw the decline of the Temperance Movement. However, one Temperance Bar survived and today Mr Fitzpatrick's still own and operate the little Victorian Bar situated in the Lancashire town of Rawtenstall. . It still looks much the same as it always did: ceramic tap barrels, shelves lined with jars of medicinal herbs, roots and extracts - a nod to the past whilst looking forward to the future.


Time moves on - but it’s good to know some things stay the same

At Mr Fitzpatrick's we are as passionate as ever about our cordials and whilst many of our recipes owe their origins to the original Fitzpatrick's herbalists, we have stayed true to those traditions whilst expanding and developing our range of exciting and quirky cordials . All our vintage cordials are still produced today using only the finest natural ingredients.