H.L. Myers, M.P.S. Chemist, Birmingham
A curious explore this one. The chemist has been demolished yet the basement is still in place underground in the middle of a building site. Add to that, there is literally zero information online about this chemist. It's invisible on Google just like it's invisible to passers by on the busy Birmingham high street.
Inside the dark and damp basement was the remnants of the chemist's stock; bottles, lotions, old advertising placards, old money envelopes and documents. getting photos was a tricky affair as there was little room for a large tripod and I couldn't stand up in most of the rooms as the ceiling was so low. I'm happy with the shots i did get though and it was great I was able to document this beautiful piece of history before the inevitable bulldozers come and it's lost forever.
UPDATE AUGUST 2024
Thankyou to Simon who emailed me and gave me some personal history of the chemist. I can put a name to the chemist of Henry Louis Myers, hence the H.L.Myers on the signage.
This was Simon's great grandfather's shop who opened up the shop and was also called Henry Louis Myers, originally in Birmingham. Below is Simon's bit of personal history along with some images he sent me......
........."I stumbled across this website and was amazed to find the photos of this chemist shop. This is my grandfather's shop in Pensnett, Henry Louis Myers. My mother and two brothers were brought up behind the shop. The business was started by my great-grandfather.
I’ve attached a couple of photos of bottles from my grandfather’s shop – the one marked ‘The Lotion’ is still very occasionally used after more than 60 years!
The other photos are of my grandfather – Henry Louis Myers- on the steps of his shop, date unknown, and inside the shop with members of staff. They were all long serving; my mother went to Dudley Girls’ High School with one of them.
My grandfather, grandmother, mother and two brothers all lived at the back of the shop. The children all went to the school opposite. All of them have now died.
The business was started by my great grandfather, also called Henry Louis Myers, originally in Birmingham.
It was amazing to find your photos – we live in North Yorkshire and I’ve never been in the shop. It was sold some time ago, it’s sad to see how it’s ended up".........
