Oldest Chemists Shop

A conveyance, dated 1st July 1884, encapsulates the line of ownership from the beginning of the 19th century until the start of the long reign of the Lawrence family. The Indenture between Charles Potter of Knaresborough, Pharmaceutical Chemist, and William Pierpoint Lawrence of No. 194 Great College Street, Camden Town, Middlesex, also Pharmaceutical Chemist, shows that the Market Place premises were surrendered into the hands of the Lord of the Manor to the use of W P Lawrence and his heirs to the "custom of the manor". The Market Place premises are described as "the shop (formerly two shops) and outbuildings formerly in the possession of John Coupland, afterwards in the occupation of Robert Gervas then of John Acomb and now of Charles Potter".

Evidence of occupation by Robert Gervas is shown in two 19th century directories, extracts of which are available on Knaresborough Online, Baines' 1822 and Pigot 1834 under Chemists/Chymists and Druggists. In both years there are three chemists in the Market Place, the other two run by Mark Lambert and John Weddall. Pigot's Directory for 1841 shows that John Acomb has now taken over and that Mark Lambert runs the other chemists in the Market Place - John Weddall's establishment must have closed down.

The 1851 census for Knaresborough shows 3 chemists operating in the Market Place:

Interestingly, a Thomas Gervas is, at this time, operating as a chemist in the Market Place - perhaps the son of the Robert Gervas who was running the Oldest Chemist in 1822 and 1834?

The pestle and mortar seen in the illustration are still in the shop. According to the popular pamphlett describing the shop and its contents, in the early 19th century dogs were employed to turn the pestle. Apparently the main product was a mercurial ointment used on sheep before the invention of sheepdips - it is to be hoped that medicinal powders were not ground immediately afterwards!

To the right of the pestle and mortar is shown the "bleeding couch" - for dental work!

A customer account for 1853 shows that John Acomb was still running the chemists - portions are reproduced below.

The letterhead from an Account dated 1853 when the shop was in the hands of John Acomb.

The lower lines of print read: Fish Sauces, Pickles, & Vinegars    Spermacetti and other oils
Patent medicines. Importer of Hamburgh Leeches .

Stamped and dated Jan 20/54 with John Acomb's signature

Letterhead from an 1857 Account of Charles Potter, the "Successor to the late John Acomb"

The Account is stamped and signed "Settled Jan 25/58 Charles Potter"

Some time between January 1854 and the end of 1856 Charles Potter took over and we again have evidence of his occupancy from a customer account for 1857.

Gallipoli Oil features in every month throughout the year. Other items include Bees Wax, Neatsfoot Oil, Red Lead and Vitriol

In 1881 Charles Potter and his family are still at the shop as the census entry tabulated below shows:

The leather bag hanging in the shop where it is said customers used to leave and collect prescriptions.
© Alyson Jackson

Charles Potter then handed on to William Pierpoint Lawrence in 1884 and during all of the period which saw the last 16 years of the reign of Queen Victoria, Two World Wars and the birth of our modern society in the post war period up to the nineteen-sixties, the Lawrence family ran their business from the Oldest Chymists Shoppe in England.

William Pierpoint Lawrence died at Knaresborough on the 1st of November 1902. In his will he left everything to his wife, Alice. Alice died on the 30th July 1921 - she was at 18 Hurstleigh Terrace, Harrogate at the time. She had drawn up her own will in the year following her husband's death when she was living at Tenter Lodge in Knaresborough. In her will she appoints "...her sons Julius Pierpoint Lawrence of Knaresborough afsd Electrical Engineer and Edmund William Lawrence of Knaresborough afsd Chemist and Druggist Executors thereof and Trustees...". She bequeathed the "copyhold dwelling house and shop" in the Market Place and "freehold cottage and warehouse" in the High Street to Edmund. Julius and Edmund also received various stocks and shares. Three siblings - Frederick Hugh, Stella, and Helen - each received money and various other possessions. It seems the family had developed a good business which rewarded them well.

Julius outlived his mother by less than a year, dying on the 26th of March, 1922 at 82 Peel Road, North Wembley, Middlesex.

On the 15th of October 1963, Edmund Lawrence sold a large plot of land to Harold Denis Bonfield Alvin of Harrogate, presumably including No 16 Market Place. In the following year Harold Alvin sold on the High Street Land to Suburban Centre Properties Ltd.

In 1964 the problem of the use of a Water Closet at No 16 Market Place required the services of the legal profession! John Matthews had No 14 Market Place, and Frederick Peacock, as the Mortgagee of No 14, had use of No 16's Water Closet "subject to the legal charge thereof dated the seventh day of May one thousand nine hundred and fifty three and made between Mabanes Ltd of the one part and Edgar Craven Peacock and Hugh Burton Simpson of the other part (the benefit whereof was vested in the Mortgagee by a transfer of the Mortgage dated the tenth day of May one thousand nine hundred and fifty five and made between the said Hugh Burton Simpson, Frederick James Peacock and George Saville Bentley of the one part and the Mortgagee of the other Part)" (The latter is included mainly for the benefit of Genealogists!)

Inside the Oldest Chemist's Shop.
© Alyson Jackson

Apparently an agreement had been reached whereby No 14 could use No 16's WC and in 1964 Harold Alvin paid £80 to the owner, John Matthews of Leeds, to obtain release from this agreement.

The Alvin family retained The Oldest Chymists Shoppe in England until 1989 when it passed to Reginald Newton Merrin and subsequently, in 1994, to J Pickles and Sons

In August 1999 the premises were taken over by John Farrah, and the historical link with chemist's retained through a commitment to sell a full range of J Pickles pharmaceuticals as well as the famous lavender water. In February 2001 the first floor of this historic building opened as the Lavender Rooms.