1824-1893The Waterside Celebrates
150 years of
Henry Cook
1824-1893
Gosport Hampshire UK
We will be holding various celebrations from May 2003 - May 2004.
We would love to hear from anyone who has photos, information & memorabilia to do with Henry Cook/Mission Hall/Reading Rooms/Ships & his work below. Are you related to Henry Cook? Did you attend the old Mission Halls or new Bethel Mission and have stories to tell?
Contact Neil Sutton 023 9252 8948 Evenings or email neil@thewaterside.org
A brief Outline
1853 Henry Cook set up the first Ragged Day School and Sunday School for boys, in 80 High Street.
Later he started a Boys Industrial Home in 47 Stoke Road
1858 Built a Ragged School in 46 South Street (behind Woolworth's approx)
1869 Built The Portsmouth and Gosport Seaman's Mission, 66 South Street, which later incorporated a Ragged School for girls. ( to the right of the George & Dragon Pub.)
1875 (approx) Coffee & Reading Rooms in 47 Stoke Road and Beach Street.
1885 (approx) New Mission Hall at Rudmore Place Portsmouth.
1886 (approx) Coffee & Reading Room/Mission at The Quay Portsmouth
1887 He replaced a Wherry (Portsea to Porchester) and another boat 'Annie' with two new schooners 'The Mystery' & 'Herald of Mercy'. Later set up a floating mission harboured at Portsmouth, over 27 attended.
1889 Set up a French Seaman's Mission (& hospital?) in Deauville France.
1890 (approx) Mission Hall in Forton Road Camden Town
1893 had a new auxiliary screw steamer built which could hold 300 people, called 'The Good News'.
1893 Henry Cook died in the Mission Hall in Deauville
1969 Both The Old Mission Buildings were demolished and a new building sited next to the Gosport Precinct in South Street.
Early Trustees
William Hobbs - Brewery Owner Stoke Road
Dr Kealy
Messrs J & E Lapthorn - Sail makers
Mr Mumby - Owner of Chemists High Street & Soda Water/Lemonade Factory
Mr B Nicholson - Head of Camper & Nicholson's Yacht Building Company
Mr O Upfield - Draper
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