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| Ancestor Gateway Forum - STAMFORD MEMORIES GATEWAY (Lincolnshire England) used as PRIDE and PREJUDICE FILM SET | New Topic | Search |
| Thread Topic: Johnsons Chemist Red Lion Square Stamford Topic Originator: Editor Post Date June 21, 2006 @ 11:04 AM |
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| Editor |
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Johnsons used to be the Chemists in Red Lion Square where the off License is now. It was nearly always open in the evening so if you worked and had to go for your surgery appointment at night, Johnsons was your normal (dreaded) place to go to have your prescription filled. I say dreaded because there would always be a queue (well not so much a queue as a gathering) of people waiting for ages for their prescriptions. When yours was finally done, Mr Johnson or Fergus Bryce, his assistant chemist, would call out your name and often go into great detail about the ointment, pills etc that you had to take. This in a big, deep, loud voice which all the shop could hear. Could be quite embarrassing, but also very amusing if you were not the unlucky recipient. The whole shop was a complete muddle and how they ever found what they were looking for is a mystery, but they always did. |
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| john freear |
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Now I am going to be a bit risque; do you remember the little room up 2 or so steps to the left of the entrance doors over the counter where a nod and a wink with a half crown passed over the counter would send Mr Johnson or Fergy scurrying to retrieve who knows what for the customer? Kate: I remember the steps John, but am too young to know anything else! |
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| David |
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Circa late 50's early 60's. I used to attend grammar school with two of the Johnson sons,they were boarders at Kings' Peterborough.After leaving Kings' and making a move to Ryhall I bumped into the eldest son"Keggy" on a Stamford st we became friends for a while. Kate: Thanks for that update David. It all helps to build a bigger picture and those who remember Johnsons always like to hear a "bit more" info. It brings all those memories back. |
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| JohnDale McAllister |
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In 62 & 63 the assistant in Johnsons was a girl called Chris(tine) Studd. Kate: Thanks John. Wonder if Chris(tine) is out there somewhere reading this? |
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| margaret |
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Talking about chemists, I am sure there was a chemist or was it a post office ? on st marys street which is now an estate agents , and across the road is a flower shop. Kate: Yes there was a chemists there - I think it was Brodies. Mr Brodie was I think on the town council. His daughter was also there and ran an opticians business at the rear of the shop. Later I think the Co-op took the shop over but then as you say it became an estate agents office. |
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| angela cuschieri ne;holland |
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I used to work in johnsons chemist as a sat girl, I loved it, especially Mr Johnson, with his feet all swathed in grubby bandages, and no socks! Christine Studd worked there as well as Eileen Dunkerley, and Hilary Mitchell. Christine went on to date my brother Billy Holland for a few years, she is still around, looking gud doing lots of keep fit activities. Hilary has passed away, bless her, and Eileen moved away to work abroad, but I hear she is back in Stamford,maybe walked by her, and didn't recognise her, after all these years. Kate: Hi Angela. Thanks very much for that update on Johnsons. We all remember it with nostalgia. Part of our childhood, early adulthood to have to venture into Johnsons when we needed some embarassing prescription. His booming voice made us tremble and cower in the corner! If we could get in there when it was empty what a boon! |
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| betty |
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Wendy Britten worked for many years in Johnsons chemist before Christine Studd. I used to wait for Wendy to finish work as she had to work late, which was not common in those days. I also seem to think Mr and Mrs Johnson lived up Barn Hill at one time as I know they used to attend the posh dinners and dances in Stamford. (I got that information from my mother who used to wait on at these do's) Hi Betty, thanks for that additional staffing info. Best wishes Kate |
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| Patrick |
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According to Ken Ford (``Who Traded Where``) Johnson`s was unique in the town because it was solely a chemists shop for around 250 years. He writes `This shop was established as a Chemist and Druggist in the early 1700s and continued in this Trade until the 1980s. In 1900 George Arthur Johnson took over the business and, eventually, his son continued in the same trade until the 1980s`. Does anyone remember the popular Johnson`s Cough and Cold Mixture reputed to contain opium and guarantee a good night`s sleep. I remember the large glass jars filled with coloured liquid (what was it?) which apparently was the trade sign of a chemist. After Judith Lawson took over the business, I asked her once how old the jars were. She didn`t know but said they were in the shop before the Johnsons bought it. She said they were valuable and several people had asked to buy them but they were not for sale. I wonder what became of them. Kate: Thanks for that Patrick. Yes, wonder where they are now? |
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| John Tyers |
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Johnsons Chemists was a town institution with very loose opening hours to say the least. There used to be a corny joke at one time about a hearse traversing Red Lion Square on it's way to the cemetery, when the coffin slid out of the back and rolled down towards the post office. Whereupon the poor unfortunate within, jumped out and ran up the Square and into the shop enquiring "Mr Johnson have you got something to stop me coughing (coffin)", Get it? On a more serious vein Johnsons were the inventors and sole suppliers of the marvellous cure all, Stanfords cough linctus which tasted delicious. Whether it did you any good is debateable.Whether it did you any good is debatable and only learned today there was Opium in it! No wonder you slept well after taking it. Kate: I like it. I like it alot John. Thankyou for that. |
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| JohnDale McAllister |
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Hi Kate, I see from Angela's entry that Chris Studd is still about Stamford. It would be lovely to make contact again after all these years & then I could make my apologies for my actions at that time. Maybe she doesn't look at the forum as this thread has been running for four years now. Kind regards,JD. Kate: Hi John. Soon be August again. Wonder if you will be making the trip to Stamford this year? |
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| Vicki Johnson |
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Hey everyone, I am Aurthur Johnsons youngest granddaughter, I have just found this string and I have to say I am smiling reading about all your memories. Fortunately for me I have very fond memories of both my Grandpa and Fergus (although both were retired when I was born) actually I say that but I can say that I also have been subjected to the cough and cold mixture several times, although Grandpa used to make it up for me until I was about 12 I still to this day do not know what he made it from and I can honestly say I really dont want to know :) I can probably answer a couple of questions..with regards to the jars that used to stand in the shop, Grandpa actually donated them to Smithkline Beecham (now GSK) and as far as I know they now stand in the libaray at the UK head office, at the time the Stamford Mercury wrote an article. Like I say its been a pleasure reading your posts and I shall point Uncle John in this direction. Keep up the reminiscing.... Hi Vicki. Thanks so much for your post and info regarding Grandpa Johnson. I have written to GSK asking them if they still have the jars and whether they could supply me with a photo. Hoping that they actually reply and that I don't get binned in the spam box! Perhaps I can locate that Mercury article which would perhaps have a photo. I must make some enquiries. Thanks again for contacting me. Johnsons was the only one for us - he was always there when we needed our prescriptions! Kate |
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