Wateringbury petitions against Licensing Bill (1871).

Post date: Nov 25, 2013 11:40:17 AM

"House of Commons, Monday, May 1." Times [London, England] 2 May 1871: 5+. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.

Petitions against the new Licensing bill were presented by [inter alia]... Mr. Whatman from Maidstone... by Lord Holmesdale from Wateringbury.

The temperance movement had made great strides and in 1870 its main organisation, the United Kingdom Alliance, had an annual income of £100,000. But an attempt in 1871 by the Home Secretary of Gladstone’s government to introduce legislation restricting opening hours and the granting of licenses, led to the brewing trade (and many of its customers) shifting to be Tory supporters.