Barrack canteen interior, 1847
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Barrack canteen interior, 1847
Interior of an army barrack canteen, 1847. An illustration provided to accompany an article in the Illustrated London News, advocating temperance and reform, and illustrating the " evils of canteens...sketched from life, in the precincts of the Horse Guards, presenting the abuse of the system with unexaggerated detail." Date: 1847
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Media ID 7179333
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10512295
1840s 1847 Abuse Alcoholic Alcoholism Barrack Canteen Drunk Drunken Drunks Guards Reform Temperance
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image, published in the Illustrated London News in 1847, provides a stark depiction of the interior of an army barrack canteen during the mid-19th century. The scene, sketched from life in the precincts of the Horse Guards, offers a sobering glimpse into the rampant abuse of the canteen system that was prevalent during this era. The canteen, a military establishment where soldiers could purchase food and drink, had long been a source of concern due to the excessive consumption of alcohol that often took place within its walls. The men in this print are shown in various stages of inebriation, their faces contorted in drunken stupors, their uniforms disheveled and unkempt. The air is thick with the acrid smell of alcohol and the cacophony of boisterous laughter and rowdy conversation. The article that accompanied this illustration called for temperance and reform, decrying the "evils of canteens" and the detrimental effects they had on the military. The image presents the situation with "unexaggerated detail," providing a raw and unfiltered look at the problem. The soldiers, who were meant to be the backbone of the British military, were instead being weakened by their dependence on alcohol. The canteen system, which was supposed to provide them with necessary sustenance, had instead become a breeding ground for addiction and debauchery. The image serves as a powerful reminder of the need for change and the consequences of neglecting the welfare of those who were entrusted with protecting the nation.
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