Oldest Chemist Shop in England

The Oldest Chemist Shop in England is a historic building in Knaresborough, a town in North Yorkshire, in England. The building was constructed in the 17th century. In 1720, the apothecary John Beckwith began running his business from the building, and it continued to operate as a pharmacy until 1998. It has since operated as a gift shop, with the fittings from the pharmacy remaining in place.

Location

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Nearby Places

Knaresborough Market Cross

Knaresborough Market Cross is a structure in Knaresborough, a town in North Yorkshire, in England. Knaresborough's records claim that a market was first held in the town in 1206, although the town's market charter is from 1310. The market cross in the Market Place is believed to have been constructed in 1709. It was demolished in 1804, with only the steps which had supported it surviving. In 1953, Cecil Naden carved a replacement cross, to commemorate the Coronation of Elizabeth II, and it was placed atop the steps. The cross is alternatively known as the "Buttery" or "Butter Cross". The steps are built of millstone grit. They have a circular plan, and consist of four concentric steps. They have been grade II listed since 1968.

Landmark Monument

Old Town Hall, Knaresborough

The Old Town Hall is a former municipal building in the Market Place, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, England. The structure, which was used as an events venue by Knaresborough Urban District Council, is a Grade II listed building.

Event Government

Commercial Hotel, Knaresborough

The Commercial Hotel is a historic pub in Knaresborough, a town in North Yorkshire, in England. The building was constructed in the 16th century, as a house. In the 17th century, the town bailiff, Peter Benson, owned the property. In about 1720, it was converted into an inn, the Commercial Hotel. The front of the building was replaced around the middle of the century. The building was restored in the 1930s, and again in 1976. It was grade II listed in 1952. In the early 21st century, it was known as the Borough Bailiff, but it was later acquired by Samuel Smith's Old Brewery and reverted to its original name. The pub has a timber framed core, it is encased in rendered limestone, and has a hipped Westmorland slate roof. There are two storeys and four bays. The doorway has fluted pilasters with paterae, a fanlight, and a triangular pediment. On the front are three bow windows, and the other windows are sashes. Under the upper floor window in the second bay is a decorative wrought iron balcony. Inside, there is a 17th-century staircase at the rear.

Brewery Hotel

166 m

Nidderdale Rural District

Nidderdale was a rural district in the West Riding of Yorkshire from 1938 to 1974. It was created from the combination of most of the disbanded rural districts of Great Ouseburn and Knaresborough. [1] The district covered villages in the lower valley of the River Nidd between Hampsthwaite and York. Despite its name it included only a small part of Nidderdale, most of which was in Ripon and Pateley Bridge Rural District. It bordered Harrogate and Knaresborough urban districts on their west, north and east. Charles Stourton, 26th Baron Mowbray, the premier baron, served on the district council from 1954 until 1959. In 1974 it was merged with other districts under the Local Government Act 1972 to form part of the district of Harrogate in the new county of North Yorkshire.

Landmark Neighbourhood

Knaresborough Castle

Knaresborough Castle is a ruined fortress overlooking the River Nidd in the town of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, England.

Castle Historic Site

More nearby places... Discovery

In 2001, the first floor was converted into a tearoom. The shop continues to sell a lavender water concotion which was made on the premises in the 19th century. The shop has a timber framed core, it is encased in brick on the front, and has a pantile roof. There are two storeys and attics, and two gabled bays. In the ground floor are central double doors flanked by bow windows with decorative wooden posts. The upper floor contains tripartite sash windows, in the left bay of the attic is a four-light sash window, and the other bay contains a painted replica. Inside the shop are surviving timber framing, 18th-century shop fittings, and 17th-century panelling and stairs. The building has been grade II listed since 1952.