CHEMIST SHOPS

by Frank Sharman

Chemists about 1900

We now look ahead to the turn of the century.  Since our last stop, in 1861, the town has expanded considerably and the number of chemists has increased accordingly; and they have moved into newly developing areas like Whitmore Reans.  They have also become more and more regulated by Food and Drugs legislation, mostly enforced by the local council.   They seem also to have dropped many of the food and delicatessen lines;  but they have now taken up the photographic business in a big way.

The "Illustrated Business Review; Wolverhampton" (which was basically advertising, masquerading as reviews, which heaped lavish praise on any business which paid for an entry) mentions two chemists.  The entries give us a picture of what chemists were like at that time.

The first is A. E. Beardmore, Chemist and Druggist, West End Drug Stores. 355, Newhampton Road.  Mr. Beardmore is said to have been there many years.  Presumably he set up when Hew Hampton was developed as a new suburb.  He stocks patent medicines, toilet, nursery and sick-room requisites, surgical appliances. The Reviews says "All the drugs and chemicals he employs in his compoundings are derived from the most reliable sources and are of the purest quality", reflecting the Victorian's well founded suspicion of poor quality, adulterated, or even faked, drugs.  Mr. Beardmore also sells his own brand products, "notably, his 'Rheumatic Mixture' which has been found so efficacious in Rheumatism, Rheumatic Gout, Sciatica, Tooth-ache and Neuralgia. This is a mixture to be taken internally, it has been a boon to many, and is deservedly popular. Several other specialities deserving of mention are 'Beardmore's Wulfruna Skin Lotion,' ' Wulfruna Hair Restorer', New Life Syrup, and Maternity Syrup."

The other chemist advertising in the 1897 Review is Frederic J. Gibson, Dispensing Chemist,  of 93 Darlington Street.  Apparently there has been a business here "upwards of sixty‑two years"  and Mr. Gibson has been there for eleven years.  "The stock maintained is of great value and variety, including the all kinds of drugs and chemicals, the most noted patent medicines and proprietary articles, surgical appliances and every description of toilet, nursery and sick room requisites, also every requisite connected with the photo­graphic art."

This is one of the earliest photos of a chemist and his shop in Wolverhampton.  (A copy of the photo is in the City Archives).  W. B. Colley had his shop at 5 Dudley Street (0n the stretch between King and Queen Street) where he was photographed about 1900.  He was there until 1917.  The fascia above the door says "Cooley and Gow" but above the door is W. B. Cooley, F. P.S.. On the top row of the shop window are signs for White’s Gout Pills, Cooley's Tonic Bitters and White's Rheumatic Pills. In the window can be seen cards for Cucumber Winter Cream and Wedge's Cough Mixture.

The 1902 Red Book also contains a classification for Herbalists and shows: Fletcher, Mrs., Piper's Row;  Hodgkiss, W., Piper's Row;  Kirkham, J., Snow Hill;  Martyn's Stores, Queen Street;  Perkins, G., 308 Great Brickkiln Street;  Waters, P., 6 Horseley Fields. This tiny carboard box (it is less than 1 inch across) came from Kirkham's on Snow Hill.

Of these herbalists, Martyns was more of a chemist than a herbalist but the others, though they might have included patent medicines in their stocks, were probably mainly peddling traditional remedies they made up themselves. From their addresses, which are on the periphery of the then town centre, rather than in prime locations, it seems likely that they were mainly selling cheaper products to the poorer people. Herbalists continue to be listed into the 1960s, though by 1964 there are only two of them: J. Kirkham is still on Snow Hill and Miss E. B. Smith is in Piper's Row. Intervening entries suggest that Mrs. Smith had taken over Mrs. Fletcher’s shop; presumably Miss Smith took over from her mother. This provides a long run of the modern version of the "wise women". Probably the wholesale clearance of Piper's Row did for them.

Of course, there were chemists shops in Bilston.  This listed building, opposite the market, is well remembered as Shelley's, the chemist. The old sculpture on top of the building is said to be Aescapuleius, the famous ancient Greek doctor, whose work was still relied on in modern times. In fact the sculpture may well be of Hercules, as beneath the bust is a club, not a caduceus. The club was Hercules' symbol; the caduceus - snakes twisted round a staff - was the medical symbol.  But who would notice the difference?.

The 1914 Red Book list does not, for some reason, mention Boots but otherwise it is much the same as in 1902, but with Martyn's now at Queen Street, Dudley Road, Newhampton Road, Victoria Street, and 41 Wolverhampton Road, Heath Town. Warner and Son are at 42 Chapel Ash and C. M. Warner is at Stafford Road. Martyn's seem to have become quite a big concern.  The two firms named Warner seem not to be associated, though there may once have been a family connection. 

Another "Illustrated Review" was published in 1914.  This time several chemists are amongst the entries, including Gibson of Darlington Street, who is still banging on about how long his firm has been established: it is "one of, if not the oldest pharmacy in Wolverhampton. It dates its founding back to the year 1835, a matter of eighty years - surely a length of time that fully guarantees the reliability and experienced management of any business house. The present proprietor succeeded Mr. Brevitt, in 1886". His stock is extensive: "drugs, chemicals, patent medicines and proprietary articles; surgical, sick-room and medical specialities of all kinds; a full range of toilet goods of best manufacture; while a special feature is the stocking of leading photographic goods - cameras, plates, papers, &c., for all professional and amateur requirements"

Another entry is for A. E. Marlow, M.P.S., Pharmacist, 172, Owen Road.  This is probably another case of a chemist setting up show in a relatively newly developing area - the area west off Lea Road which was developed when the Graiseley estate was sold off.  His business is "conducted on the best modern lines to the distinct convenience and benefit of the surrounding community".  Marlow stocks "patent medicines, surgical, toilet, and nursery requisites of every description, and photographic specialities of the best makes."  Note that he, like most chemists at the time, is getting into the photographic business.  Amateur photography was beginning to take off in a big way.  It is also noted that "Mr. Marlow pays particular attention to the dispensing department (general and insurance) to ensure giving the best satisfaction to all customers, and we may add that his prices all-round".  The reference to "insurance" is probably a reference to National Insurance, under which scheme prescriptions could be had for free if you were poor enough.  In his area Narlow would probably have found quite a lot of such customers.

Hall's shop at Newbridge, 1914. Note the side entry, to the right, leading to the soft drinks works.

Then we have E. E. Hall of Newbridge,  who is described as "Pharmacist and Manufacturer of High class Table Waters", Newbridge.  Mr. Hall started the business "over twenty years ago" but now has a partner, Mr. H. J. T. Haygard.  Newbridge was another developing residential area where a chemist would find a good trade. The entry reflects the contemporary concern getting professional advice:  "Mr. Hall and his partner, Mr. J. T. Haygard, are fully qualified pharmacists, and pay the closest personal attention to the dispensing department, which is a leading feature of the business. It is specially worthy of note that patrons of this shop can be waited upon by one or other of the partners, and therefore by a fully qualified chemist."

They stock "pure and fresh drugs and chemicals, all the best-known patent medicines, and all the leading productions and novelties in the surgical and toilet lines. A special feature is made of photographic goods: cameras, plates, papers, etc."

Two soda syphons for Hall's.  The plastic tops are stamped as theirs but are probably much newer than the glass parts.

A few of the specialities which are commanding large and increasing sales are as follows :Hall's dry ginger ale (in crown cork bottles); " Limoda," (in screw and crown cork bottles), a new table drink possessing a most pleasing and refreshing flavour; and " Devon Cidro," a new sparkling beverage affording the delicious flavour of the apple without the products of fermentation; also lemonade, old-fashioned stone ginger beer, hop bitters, soda water, seltzer water, potash water, lithia, and table waters, supplied in bottles or syphons. We need only add that excellent facilities are possessed for ensuring the prompt delivery of orders to any distance." The yellow paper label on one of the syphons shown here says "Halls (Soft Drinks) Ltd." showing that at some date this side of the business was separated and incorporated.

From 1909 we also have this advert for Harold Coleman of Worcester Street, who sells his own liver pills, but note also his emphasis on photographic goods.

---