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Tea and crumpets in Colorado Springs
How Colorado Springs and her homeowners became known as Little London
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Dr. William Bell (Palmer’s prodigy), became Colorado Springs main press agent in 1874. He promoted how wonderful 
Colorado Springs was to the Europeans (especially the English, Welsh, Irish and Scots). He originally haled from that area and eventually would return there in the 1890’s, but not before building his home, Briarhurst Manor in Manitou Springs. Why did this western United States town become know as “Little London”? Evidently, tea and crumpets were the norm at 5pm everyday.
Besides that, Dr. Bell actually took ads out in the local European newspapers on how the Pikes Peak region was superior for raising sheep and cattle….you might be saying, huh (?) to yourselves, but it was true. He had known for many years that the British couldn’t provide enough food for their population and there was a massive immigration going
g on out of England to the United States and he promoted the Pikes Peak area as the perfect place to come to. Thousands of tenant farmers and younger members of wealthy families were moving west and Dr. Bell thought why not get some of these folks to move here. So, he placed the ads and convinced these British to bring themselves and their money to Colorado Springs and make it their home. Of course, most of these farms and ranches failed, but, quite a few of these British citizens wound up staying and becoming merchants, bankers etc. Ranch life was too rugged for the niceties of British society, but they were definitely enforced in Colorado Springs itself. Cricket was a major sport and the policemen were known as bobbies. There were more British flags flown during Queen Victoria’s birthday than there were Stars and Stripes flown over the Fourth of July.
Because the city had such a strong British influence, (it was the tradition to have governesses raise the children); many nannies, cooks etc. were hired from England, Scotland and Ireland.They were brought to Colorado Springs to work for many of the wealthy families of the day. Most of them were young, pretty and single; they wound up falling in love, marrying and raising their children in Colorado Springs. They became the Grandmothers of of Colorado Springs, not only to the working and middle class, but also to the elite of the city, living in homes built on Wood Ave (now called The Old North End) and the likes.
If you look at the homes built during that time, you see a large influence derived from England…look at Dr. Bells Briarhurst Manor, Palmer’s Glen Eyrie Castle , the cottage of Helen Hunt Jackson (parts of which are on display today at the Pioneers Museum ). The old Grace Church on Pikes Peak Ave (near Weber) was built in the traditional Gothic manner and so too, was Cutler Hall at Colorado College. Middle income homes built during that time also show these influences such as Tudor style towers, cupolas and gables with exposed beams.
The Hope Diamond Connection
Other than Dr. Bell and Palmer, their were quite a few other promoters of Little London. One was Tom Walsh, who came to Colorado Springs as a carpenter and later became a multimillionaire due to the early gold rush in Colorado (before Cripple Creek). His daughter, Evalyn Walsh McLean was often seen in Washington D.C. wearing a large diamond (the Hope Diamond is now housed in the Smithsonian Museum).
The Little London era of Colorado Springs started in 1871 and really diminished after 1890; but, its influence still remains and will never completely fade away as long as we have these fine homes and memories to remind us of our not so far away past in Colorado Springs. Tea at 5 anyone?
Must Read Articles
- The Founder of Colorado Springs, William Jackson Palmer
- The Young Years of Colorado Springs
- Tea and crumpets in Colorado Springs
- The End of an Era in Colorado Springs
If you enjoyed reading this article, why not Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
Hello. Great job. I did not expect this. This is a great story. Thanks!