Behind the scenes at the Victorian pharmacy

The recent BBC television series about a Victorian pharmacy features the Bates and Hunt Chemist's shop at Blists Hill, a recreated Victorian town at Ironbridge Gorge. The shop was built in 1984, but is modelled on a pharmacy that stood in nearby Wellington. The contents, however, came mainly from a pharmacy in Bournemouth. John Challen, the museum's curator of technology, approached me regarding the risks posed by the collection. The museum's trustees wondered whether the contents of the iconic bottles needed to be removed to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. John wanted to know whether this was a reasonable reaction. So began a fascinating 18-month collaboration between university staff, museum staff and undergraduates.