You are in [Artefacts] [Medical and Pharmaceutical]
A detailed History of Medicine in Hungerford is elsewhere in the museum.
This artice includes various items related to the medical and pharmaceutical life of Hungerford.
William Gee Taylor bought 3 Bridge Street in 1877 for £290 at the age of 31 years. In 1895 he bought 3a Bridge Street for £280 - bringing the joint property back into single ownership, as it had been prior to 1812. He ran the business until c1896 when it was taken over by his son Henry Fernley Taylor. William Gee Taylor continued to sing in St Saviour's Church Choir until July 1912 when he and his wife moved to London.
Tom Bekers kindly contacted the Virtual Museum (July 2015) with a set of interesting adverts and articles about Henry Fearnley's grandfather - Charles Gee Taylor, vendor and inventor of patent medicine, who lived in Newbury: "The dates range from 1842 up to 1874. By 1874 he had retired and sold his recipes to Mr Ballard (I think). Charles's business must have been flourishing, as he advertised in the surrounding counties, and had a famous London wholesaler (Barclay and Sons, Farringdon Rd, London) I managed to find their catalogue online, including Taylor ointments indeed". See adverts for pharmaceutical products by Charles Gee Taylor, and a summary of his biography on the Friends of Newtown Road Cemetery website. (With thanks to Tom Bekers, June 2017).
The gallery includes items relating to
- Henry Fernley Taylor, 3 and 3a Bridge Street (all the photos of the green poison bottles were kindly sent by Sara Wright, October 2022)
- William Gee Taylor
- J. McKerlie, M.R.C.V.S, and
- Arthur Heanes Bingham, 125 High Street (now Boots) between c.1914 and c.1939
Photo Gallery:
The blue bottle previously containing a ferric salt, labelled as POISON by Taylor "Chemist by Examination" of Hungerford. Henry Fernley Taylor, dispensing and photographic chemist, was at 3 & 3a Bridge Street between c1896 and 1940.
The yellow bottle contains Aniline Yellow - dispensed by W.G. Taylor.
Colic Draught No. 4 for horses, "to be given in half a pint of warm water, and repeated in one hour if necessary". Dispensed by J. McKerlie, M.R.C.V.S., Hungerford. Tel No. 30".
"Mosquito or Gnat Bite Lotion", dispensed by A.H. Bingham, Hungerford." Arthur Heanes Bingham was chemist at 125 High Street (now Boots) between c1914 and c1939.
Ointment jar labelled by W.G. Taylor, P.P.S.
Of course, dispensing chemists dispensed medicines for not only human patients, but they also had a large veterinary practice - the adjacent brown bottle is labelled "The Mixture" - "Husk for Cattle" [Half for a dose] as dispensed by H.F. Taylor.
With special thanks to Stewart Hofgartner of "Below Stairs of Hungerford Antiques"
See also:
- Medical and Pharmaceutical (over 10 items) (from Stewart Hofgartner's Collection)
- Parish Magazine, Aug 1912 (re William Gee Taylor).
- W Gee Taylor's Almenac, 1896-1901 (from Stewart Hofgartner)
The Canal Wharf, 2011