Park Pharmacy Trust

A unique experience

Visitors to the third floor of the Merchant’s House will be lucky enough to see the famous C J Park Pharmacy. This is the last remaining Victorian chemist’s shop in Plymouth. Established in 1864, it is manned by volunteers from the Park Pharmacy Trust. Visitors can wander round an authentic Victorian pharmacy, try their hand at old-fashioned pill-rolling (and earn a certificate of proficiency if they’re good enough!) and find out more from the volunteer stewards on duty.

Background

Park Pharmacy Trust is a registered Educational Charity. Since its inception in 1984 it has worked closely with Plymouth City Council for the wider benefits of the local community. The Trust has received national recognition for its innovative approach to life-long learning. It has pioneered recall reminiscence sessions with Age Concern Devon and Plymouth Age Concern and also runs hands-on practical workshops for primary school children.

Visitors can also be transported back in time at the Trust’s headquarters in Thorn Park Lodge, Thorn Park, Plymouth. The lodge has a pharmaceutical library, a collection of materia medica (used in the past for making pharmaceutical preparations), an extensive collection of artefacts and old-fashioned proprietary goods and a medicinal garden where visitors can learn about plants used in the medicine or just sit and enjoy the surroundings.

Volunteer opportunities

Park Pharmacy Trust is now interviewing for stewards to join the teams who staff the pharmacy at the Merchant's House. Training will be given and travelling expenses paid. Stewards usually work a morning or afternoon one day a week.

Once you've seen the hundreds of old fashioned medicines and appliances that are on display in the shop you’ll definitely want to stay! Earning a Certificate of Proficiency in Pill Rolling thrills our youngster visitors and it’s great fun listening to our older visitors as they reminiscence about the old medicines. Does “Friday Night is Amami Night” ring a bell with you?

More information

For more information please contact Dr Jan Knight, Chairman of Trust on 01752 565676 or alternatively email jan@knightscientific.com.