#9 of 20 star objects - Aplins Chemist

Aplins chemist was a family run business which lasted for over 100 years. Orginally established in 1790 as 'W H Haywood' chemist and dentist practised from The Limes, where the Town Hall now stands. He died in  1888 and the business was taken over by John Henry Aplin, then only 22.

Aplins chemist sign in Trowbridge Museum

Aplins then moved next door (1 Silver street) and remained there. In 1915, John and his wife Faith had a son, Robert John Aplin or 'Bob', in 1933 Bob left Trowbridge to train as a pharmacist, returning several years after the war to join the family chemist, first as an assistant, then partner, and gradually took over the running - working long hours 6 days a week. 

In 1991, at the age of 76, Robert decided it was time to give up the family business, he often felt guilty and responsible for the future of his staff. Although having 2 daughters, both had left Trowbridge, and there was noone to carry on the Aplins name and business.
Robert Aplin continued to do locum pharmacist jobs in several locations, even months before his death in 1999, aged 83.

During the 1890's, Aplins was noted for its own soda water and lemonade. 'Magic' cures were available for everything was corns to coughs and colds and even pig powders were sold (7 1/2d or 1 shilling a box).

The medicines were stored in beautifully painted and gilded specie jars, liquids stored in carboys with characteristically pointed stoppers.
When the shop was cleared, a wonderful array of pharmaceutical paraphernalia was donated to Trowbridge Museum, some of it dating back to the Victorian period . From are pill bottles and boxes to labels for poisons and a beautiful set of chemist’s wooden drawers.
You will find many of the objects still on display in the Museum, and further items can be viewed by request.

 

Aplins display in Trowbridge Museum and Trilox Invalid Carriage restored by Bob Hallam