A Hucknall History

Historic Health Care

Medicinal Druggists

Apothecary

Earliest found indication of medicinal drugs being locally prescribed dates from February 1790 appointment of Samuel Wilson and his wife from Hucknall Huthwaite. Awarded an annual salary of £10 on becoming Overseers of the Sutton-in-Ashfield Workhouse, their agreement included this statement: He is likewise to act in his professional business as surgeon and apothecary for all the poor of this parish gratis, ...

Samuel's agreement suggests he held a prior surgical practice in Huthwaite, but even Hucknall Huthwaite commercial directories cannot readily identify any medical professions which all long predate legislation furthermore demanding qualified doctorates. His role would therefore be likely based upon having been a basically tooled Barber surgeon and or apothecary, as would be found serving most localities. They used herbs and mixed various obnoxious ingredients to present rudimentary medicines prescribed and sold to anyone who came seeking cures for illness and ailments beyond the help of more common home made remedies.

Druggist

By time Buckland & Parr are first identified in 1881, older name of apothecary has often been replaced by either a loosely termed Druggist or a more specialised Chemist. Their partnership shares those separated titles through 1888, until Edward Parr asserts himself in 1889 as a Huthwaite chemist amongst multiple titles, then widely ranging from Seedsman to Rate Collector plus Burial Board Registrar. That same year adds Henry Bailey, again classed in twinned professions of both Druggist and Chemist at another East Kirkby store.

There's no obvious difference to best define closely tied services, except perhaps that a druggist shop offered a broader variety. This informative 1895 advert for a newly opened Sutton Drug Stores was discovered by chance on rear side a family held press clipping. It reveals a good example of range between cosmetics to fresh leeches. Familiar enough items, continually supplied through any respectable Chemist. Perhaps tooth extraction is one additional service, which could have involved drugging patients with pain killers.

Nonetheless, interestingly noted formerly under the late Edwin Buckland, it could well recognise aforementioned partnership with Edward Parr. He's revealed again in 1900, credited that time with running both a drug store and Shoulder of Mutton pub. Some may find that an amusing combination predating modern familiarity affording recreational drugs.

Chemist

Trusted name throughout a 20th century for medicines were Chemists. A 1913 Insurance Act introduced free prescriptions when issued by a registered doctor and dispensed by qualified registered chemists. The first found Huthwaite chemist filling this criteria recognises Henry Highfield in 1912. His last 1932 listing identifies 13 Market Street address, adjacent one known doctors surgery.

Another Huthwaite chemist also gaining 1932 trade listing names John Pieter Derrick Spaanderman having established what would long after remain the Huthwaite chemist at 203 Sutton Road along the Bottoms.

Miss Mary Goodall was well remembered for also running a smaller chemists from her neighbouring pit house at number 189. Both businesses are found listed in the last Kelly's 1941 directory, but Miss M Goodall won recognition in the Chemist & Druggist magazine November 9th 1957 when they awarded her £100 for issuing their Grand Prize Winners entry form in a national photo competition, posted and won by E Lakin.

Pharmacist

Later Spaanderman advertisement from a 1958 Sutton Road church program nicely manages to introduce future title change from Chemist to Pharmacist. Its large windowed frontage cornering New Fall Street would become the only one continuing to hand mix prescriptions, while dispensing many more products becoming mass manufactured by giant pharmaceutical brands. Many folk still referred to the Chemist by habit, seeking the usual array of toiletries plus film rolls and photo developing services. However, throughout its later years under unidentified change of ownership, this would thereafter be seen correctly signed the Huthwaite Pharmacy.

Purchase and 1992 demolition of New Hucknall Miners Institute had realised a personal investment by one Huthwaite practitioner of the time.   Dr Smith sold off that corner plot eventually for a Newcastle Street housing development, but that was some years after managing to move the Sutton Road Pharmacist into a much securer adjacently convenient New Street premises carrying over a named Peak Pharmacy.

Huthwaite Peak Pharmacy

Moving the Huthwaite Health Centre off New Street into a newly built complex to be called Brierley Park Medical Centre from June 2013, eventually realised the legacy bequeathed by one former Huthwaite GP after the 2011 death of Dr Donald Clitheroe. The Sutton Road site at No 127 incorporated an adjacent counter shop sharing same addressing to also relocate the Huthwaite Peak Pharmacy from September 2013. Issuing and dispensing prescriptions can now apparently be efficiently all done under one roof.