In 1877, Mr Dodshon held a public meeting to promote the establishment of the Stockton Coffee Palace Company Ltd. His proposal was to establish a number of these temperance venues throughout the town. Each “palace” was intended to be a teetotal working mans club. The Mayor of Stockton formally opened the first venue at Bridge End, South Stockton (i.e. Thornaby) in November 1878. A few months later, the main venue, the Victoria Coffee Palace, opened in Dovecote Street in February 1879. And the following month another outlet was opened in Portrack Lane. The Stockton Coffee Palace token is thought to have been of use in paying for non-alcoholic drinks.

Image kindly supplied by Richard Groves of Dumfries.