Douglas Soup Dispensary

The Douglas Soup Dispensary was a soup kitchen located in Myrtle Street, Douglas, Isle of Man.[1][2][3]

The Douglas Soup Dispensary, Douglas Isle of Man
Inscription above the door of the Douglas Soup Dispensary.

History

The original dispensary was opened in 1818[4] and was situated at numerous venues until it was replaced by a permanent building known as Noble's Hall. This was paid for with a bequest from the Henry Bloom Noble Trust, and built in 1908 on land which had been owned by Henry Noble.[1][2][3] The dispensary would provide, free of charge, a nourishing meal to the poorer inhabitants of the town between 12 and 1 o'clock each day across the winter months from the beginning of November until the week before Easter.[1][2]The dinners cost about 2d each to produce and cook, amounting to about £200 over the winter period.[5] Over a typical winter the dispensary would serve in the region of 8,000 quarts of soup, together with 3,000 loaves of bread.[6]

By 1948 with the introduction of the Welfare State the requirement for the soup kitchen had started to ease, and the dispensary's opening times changed from daily to specific days: these were Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only.[7] It still offered an invaluable service, particularly to elderly people, many of whom continued to use the service.[7]

The dispensary was operated by a Charitable Committee run by volunteers, and was funded partly by a farthing levied on the town's rates; the remainder came from charitable donations.[1][2][3][5][7]

In addition to the Noble Trust, some other notable benefactors were the island's Lieutenant Governor, and High Bailiff Samuel Harris.[1][2][3]

References
  1. Mona's Herald. Wednesday, May 06, 1903; Page: 7
  2. "1908 - Douglas Soup Dispensary - Myrtle Street - Douglas. Isle of Man - Dated Buildings and Cornerstones on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com.
  3. Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
  4. Isle of Man Times. Saturday, November 06, 1937; Page: 12
  5. Isle of Man Examiner. Friday, January 17, 1941; Page: 5
  6. Isle of Man Examiner Friday, April 29, 1932; Page: 6
  7. Isle of Man Examiner. Friday, December 07, 1951; Page: 5
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