Douglas Soup Dispensary

[1][2][3] The original dispensary was opened in 1818 (207 years ago) (1818)[4] and was situated at numerous venues until it was replaced by a permanent building known as Noble's Hall.

[1][2][3] The dispensary provided, free of charge, a nourishing meal to the poorer inhabitants of the town between 12 noon and 1 o'clock each day across the winter months from the beginning of November until the week before Easter.

[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 (77 years ago) (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.

[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.