Silver spatula from Nightingale’s Chemist

Object MC838 is a silver spatula, engraved with the words Nightingale Chemist Egham. , cut down from a dessert knife with a mother of pearl handle.

It would have been used as a laboratory implement for breaking up, scraping off, picking up and transferring chemical solids, powders or granules or other materials out of flasks or bottles into other containers such as weighing dishes.

Nightingale Chemist was located on 44/44a Egham High Street. From at least 1851 to 1858, the shop was owned by Henry Nightingale, apparently sharing the premises with a shop and post office run by Francis and Elizabeth Byrne from 1848-53.

42-44A High Street formed 1 large shop until 1927 but it seems to have functioned as two separate retail premises. From 1859-1898, the Western half 42-43 and 44a was occupied by Herbert Weller’s Emporium (drapers and outfitters) which expanded additionally into 44 from 1898-1922.

The Eastern half, No 44 continued to be occupied by chemist’s shops until 1868. Most recently the home of Dry-cleaning by Panache, the shop has recently been demolished for the development of student accommodation.

Margaret C Stewart