85-87 High Street

Numbers 85-87 High Street are currently occupied by Boots the Chemist and the property has, by and large, continuously offered the same services and products for over two hundred years. Two chemist families, the Stedmans and the Olivers, who occupied this building at different times, were to become mainstays of West Malling high street throughout the 19th and 20th century. The ragstone buildings that we see today were commissioned by Richard Broomfield Stedman  –  he acquired two buildings from William Mair, owner of several other properties that once stood where Tesco car park now is, and following their demolition had the existing properties built c.1865-70.(1)

Richard Broomfield Stedman

Chemist, Druggist, Bookseller and Stationer

Richard Broomfield (RB) was born in Billericay, Essex in 1821 but previous generations of the Stedman family had already established themselves in West Malling prior to this. Jumping back a couple of generations, we find RB’s grandfather, James Stedman, described as a Chymist and Druggist of West Malling High Street in his Will of 1828. James had 5 sons of which 3 went on to become surgeons and 2 chemists. All of the boys, including RB’s father Richard, moved elsewhere to ply their trade in new territories apart from William who remained in West Malling, presumably working alongside his father.

The 1841 census lists RB as a chemist and druggist in Leighton Buzzard but his marriage to Ellen Fremlin (in West Malling) in 1847 implies that he settled here at around that time. The Stedmans owned and/or occupied a number of properties in and around the High Street at different times, including no.32 (West Malling Opticians), no.47 (Phoenix Bathroom Designs), no.61 (Bombay Cuisine) and nos.85-87 (Boots).

You certainly couldn’t accuse RB of lacking the ambition to diversify his business – ‘R B Stedman’s’ was described at different times as a chemist, druggist, insurance agent, postmaster, stamp distributor, stationer, printer, bookbinder, agent to the Glasgow Art Union and circulating library. It is interesting to note that despite this thriving, diverse and well established business in the town, RB still called for a meeting of creditors in 1871(2). However, the reason for this needs further exploration as it may not have been due to financial difficulties as may be assumed. RB’s uncle, William, died in 1850 but it wasn’t until 1870 that his West Malling properties were sold at auction, as per the instructions in his will. The selling of these family properties may have contributed to RBs decision to change premises at that time. The estate was sold including, amongst 7 lots, the Stedman printing business operating from no.61 (Bombay Cuisine), which was at that time under the supervision of printer Mr Chamberlain. The auction notes described this property as, ‘an old established SHOP and PREMISES, situate in one of the best parts of the High-street of West Malling, containing shop, parlour, sitting-room, two principal bed rooms, and four others, together with offices and a small yard in the rear, now in the occupation of Mr. Chamberlain, printer. Could it be the case that RB bought back no.61 at this time in order to take the business back to the family’s original premises and was simply wrapping up other outstanding financial issues with his creditors in 1871. Whatever the case, RB announced the change of location for his business in a Notice in the Kentish Journal and Kentish Magazine…

MR. STEDMAN
27 November, 1871
Having re-opened the Premises (formerly occupied by his grandfather and uncle), next door to Mr. Wakefield’s High Street, West Malling, with a new stock of DRUGS, CHEMICALS, and STATIONERY, respectfully begs to solicit the patronage of the inhabitants of West Malling and neighbourhood, assuring them that every attention will be given to each of his business.
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Away from his business, it is clear that RB played an active role within the community, in particular the church where he held the position of churchwarden for a number of years and from the following newspaper article, it is obvious that he was both well liked and respected…

PRESENTATION OF A TESTIMONIAL
24 April, 1865
On Monday evening last Mr. Churchwarden Stedman, with characteristic liberality, invited the choristers of the parish church to an evening’s entertainment. After supper the health of the vicar was proposed, and heartily received. Next followed the toast of the evening, “The health of Mr. Stedman.” This was proposed by the choirmaster, Mr. Mills, who, in an appropriate speech, dwelt upon the many services Mr. Stedman had rendered to the choir, and concluded by offering, in the name of the choir, a handsome tea-service in superior electro-plate as a birthday present. Mr. Stedman being taken entirely by surprise said, in returning thanks, he found much difficulty to express by words the feelings of pleasure which so valuable and unexpected a present had aroused in him; but he assured them the memory of it would never be effaced from his mind, and he should always endeavour to take the same interest as heretofore in the music of our church. The evening altogether was spent most happily.
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Olivers Chemist

Pharmaceutical Chemist

The following newspaper advertisement from the Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser announced Josiah Oliver’s purchase of this property from Stedman in 1871:

J. OLIVER,
PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMIST, &c.,
West Malling, August 8th, 1871
Begs to acquaint the Nobility, Clergy, Gentry and inhabitants of West Malling and its vicinity, that he has this day purchased the business formerly belonging to Mr. R. B. Stedman, and will continue to carry on the same in the various branches of Pharmacy, Bookselling, Stationery, &c., &c.
The shop will be at once supplied with a new and complete stock of Chemicals, Drugs, and Pharmaceutical preparations, and special attention will be given to the Dispensing of Physicians’ prescriptions.
The Bookselling and Stationery Department will be replenished with an extensive assortment of new books and stationery.
The Reading Room and Library will be re-opened as early as possible.
The support of the Public is respectfully solicited.
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The J Oliver mentioned in the advert was Josiah Oliver, father of Henry Charles Hewitt Oliver who is listed on all of the censuses relating to Olivers Chemist at nos. 85-87 High Street (Boots). Josiah was born in Soham, Cambridgeshire but was to become a leading practitioner in Maidstone. He was a member of the Maidstone Town Council in 1876, was elected an Alderman in 1887, was appointed to the Commission of the Peace in 1883 and was elected Mayor of Maidstone in 1896 – he was described as, “one of the leading men of Maidstone’ in his obituary in the British Medical Journal, which finished by saying, “He leaves a name that will long be honoured in the town in which he lived and worked, and an example to the profession of what medical men can achieve in civic life.”

An advert in the Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser explains how Josiah would be undertaking a new service that, ‘…hitherto did not exist in Maidstone, but is commonly known in London as an “Open Surgery,” where all classes may obtain medical advice from a legally qualified practitioner, without the payment of any fee, and where such medicine as may be necessary is supplied at the ordinary rates charged by chemists.’ A worthy cause and could be regarded as a precursor to current GP provisions, but as this service was offered at his son’s chemist in Maidstone, there would also have been financial benefit, as well as good PR opportunities, for the family business.

Josiah’s son, Henry Charles Hewitt Oliver ran Oliver’s chemist in West Malling from 1871 until well into the 20th century – the final mention we have been able to find lists C H Oliver in West Malling in the 1913 Kelly’s Directory.

Of Henry’s 4 brothers, 3 also chose a medical profession:

• Frederick Josiah – born in Hadlow and a chemist there before moving to 43 Gabriels Hill, Maidstone
• Franklin Hewett – a physician & surgeon based in London
• Charles Pye Oliver – Doctor of Medicine in Maidstone. If you are familiar with Maidstone Hospital, you may recognise the Pye Oliver Ward, named as an acknowledgement of the affection of the staff and the high regard in which he was held at the Mid-Kent Hospital Group, where he was a member of the management committee. Click here to read Charles’ obituary in the British Medical Journal.