Robert Cook’s Digestive Pills, Grimsby, late 19th century

A small Victorian glass medicine bottle bearing a paper label for “Digestive Pills”, sold by R. Cook, Chemist, Market Place, Grimsby. The label gives the directions: “Pill twice a day, immediately after dinner and supper.”

The bottle is associated with the long-established pharmaceutical business of Robert Cook at 28 & 29 Market Place, Grimsby. The business had its origins in 1801 and was acquired by Robert Cook in 1854. He remained at its head until 1877, when he was succeeded by his son, also Robert Cook. The 1871 census records Robert Cook senior as a chemist at 28 & 29 Market Place, while the 1890 Post Office Directory confirms Robert Cook was still trading there.

Robert Cook junior was a chemist and mineral water manufacturer and had Millfield, the familiar Victorian building at Bargate which is now the Millfields Hotel, built for him in 1879. He died at Millfield in 1914, by then a retired druggist and mineral water manufacturer.

By 1910–1911, the business had passed to Robert Clithrow Johnson, who was listed at 28 & 29 Market Place as a dispensing and family chemist, described as “late Robert Cook”. The business continued at the premises for many decades and was still trading there in 1970, shortly before much of the Old Market was demolished.

This bottle provides a fascinating glimpse into the everyday medicines sold by one of Grimsby’s long-established pharmaceutical businesses, and a tangible connection to the people and places of the town’s Victorian past.

From the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum Collection.