Notice Of Closure For Centenary
AssociatedAssociated with
Davidson & Kay
(Aberdeen, Scotland, founded c.1834)
DateOctober 1962
Object NameNotice
Mediumboard
ClassificationsMedicine and Healthcare
DimensionsOverall: Height: 31.6 cm, Width: 25.5 cm
AcquisitionThe George Shepherd Pharmaceutical Collection.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS012553
Keywords
1962 was the centenary of formation of the partnership of Davidson & Kay, but the business had been handed through previous partners back to the early 1800s.
The business was successful and grew particularly 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.
The main branch was on Union Street but further dispensaries were built at Alford Place and even Balmoral as the firm expanded.
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
