John Bell and Co
The Clock House, Kingston Road, Wandsworth, 1887
John Bell & Co’s shop front, around 1870
The old elaboratory, 338 Oxford Street in the 1840s. Mezzotint by J.G.Murray, after watercolour by
WH Hunt
John Bell enlarged his Oxford Street pharmacy in 1806, and in 1819 took on two of his former apprentices, Thomas Zachary and John H Walduck, as partners. The business became John Bell and Co. Zachary took over management of the shop and Bell went to live at the Clock House, West Hill, Wandsworth – at that time a country estate.
The business benefited greatly from the rise of the medical area centred on Harley Street and the development of Regent Street. Every preparation that the shop sold was made on the premises. The business had a hriving stream of apprentices and short-term pupils, and was responsible for starting many well-known pharmacists in their careers.
The business continued to thrive after John Bell’s death in 1849, initially under Jacob Bell’s management.
In 1908, John Bell and Co merged with Croyden and Co, which had been established by one of John Bell’s former assistants, Charles Croyden, in 1832. The combined business moved to its present location at 50-54 Wigmore Street in 1912. It was acquired by Savory & Moore in 1928, subsequently becoming part of the Lloyds Chemists (now Lloyds Pharmacy) chain.