Handbill, with prices, for the 'Great Western Cooking Depot, Specially opened for the Working Classes.'

Apparently originally on a bifolium, the two pages are now each trimmed and on a separate leaf (the first 21 x 10.5 cm and the second 17.5 x 11 cm), and each laid down on a page removed from an album. The reverses are blank. On aged, discoloured paper. The first page is headed 'Great Western Cooking Depot, Specially opened for the Working Classes. | These Establishments are conducted on the strictest business principles, with the full intention of making them self-supporting, so that every one may frequent them with a feeling of perfect independence.' Boasts that 'the economy of Cooking depends greatly upon the simplicity of the arrangements with which a great number of persons can be served at one time', and gives the menu and charge for each day's 'Public Breakfast' and 'Public Dinner'. The second page is headed 'SEPARATE ROOMS FOR FEMALES. | ALL THE DAILY PAPERS.' Boasts that 'This Branch has accommodation for Dining comfortably 500 Persons at one time. | The number of Visitors throughout the various Branches now exceeds One Hundred Thousand monthly.' Warns against 'another party' that has 'adopted the peculiar name and designation'. Gives list of prices, and ends 'The Sale of the above Rations now amounts to 55,000 weekly.' Scarce. No copy on COPAC or WorldCat. The Great Western Cooking Depot was one of the earliest of the temerance houses, Corbett's object being to 'supply working people with good meals at from twopence to four and one half pence'. (For more information see J. Stephen Jeans, 'Western Worthies', Glasgow, 1872.)