When photographing our social history collection recently we looked closer at this tiny object, a matchbox holder from the old Custom House Hotel.
The inscription on the box reads ;
‘That’s the Stuff to Give ‘Em
Our business was established a few years ago. We have been pleasing and displeasing people ever since. We have made money and lost money. We have been cussed and discussed, knocked about, talked about, lied to, held up, robbed etc., to the end of the chapter. The only reason we are staying in the business is to see what the hell is going to happen next.
Custom House Hotel, Whitby, Proprietor J N Wallis,
Try our exhibition ale.
Our new circular bar will hold you all.’
We’re sure that many businesses can associate with this sentiment especially in the current climate!
The Custom House Hotel, now known as The Dolphin, was rebuilt in 1912 to enable widening of the eastern bridge approach replacing three premises: the earlier Custom House Coffee House Inn; W Sawdon, watchmaker and Clarkson and Son, glove and silk merchant. The premises was renamed The Dolphin in the 1960s.
We know very little more about the history of our little object. Can you help? Do you know when J N Wallis was proprietor or when the ‘new circular bar’ was opened. We’d love to find out more.
