Davidson & Kay Branch at 219 Union Street
AssociatedAssociated with
Davidson & Kay
(Aberdeen, Scotland, founded c.1834)
PhotographerPhotographed by
F W Hardie
Date1920s
Object NamePhotograph
Mediumcard, board
ClassificationsMedicine and Healthcare
Dimensions20.2 x 27.9cm
AcquisitionThe George Shepherd Pharmaceutical Collection.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS012550
Keywords
Davidson & Kay Limited was an Aberdeen pharmacy business with a history reaching back to the early 1800s, and possibly earlier.
The business was successful and grew during the Victorian period. Davidson & Kay benefited from Royal custom from 1857 onwards when the Duchess of Kent, mother of Queen Victoria, was a customer. The firm was granted the Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria in 1884, whose medicine was taken to the station and placed in charge of a guard before being taken by horseback from Ballater to Balmoral. The firm served 5 generations of the Royal family in all and also dispensed for the Czar of Russia.
Further dispensaries were built at Wellington Place, Alford Place and even Balmoral as the firm expanded while the main branch was on Union Street.
George Shepherd had worked with the company and collected a large amount of material relating to Davidson & Kay, and later presented this collection to Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums.
