Camborne
Camborne, being an important centre for mining and industry, has a
plethora of recorded chemists in the trade directories as would be expected.
Oddly, however, the large number of bottles recovered seem to be monopolized by
one name; Tonking.
The Tonking name occurs in a number of
companies in Camborne during the period covered.
Tonking
Charles H Tonking MPS first appears in the
trade directories in 1873 at Roskear Terrace and by
1883 has moved to town centre premises in
The bottles solely bearing the Tonking name
include the Tonking’s Embro
bottle, recovered locally, which is assumed to be attributed to him.
Dr’s Tonking
& Blackwood
There is a little mystery to this company as it does not appear in the
directories consulted although Tonking, Blackwood & Robinson are listed at
The two men in question would appear to be Dr John Herbert Tonking and Dr William Blackwood who are both listed in
1914 as working at the West Cornwall Miners’ & Women’s Hospital
Tonking & Rough
CH Tonking & Rough MPS are listed in
Camborne in 1914 & 1926 and also at St. Just in Penwith
in 1926. It is interesting to note how this company had monopolized the two
main mining areas in
Note mis-spelling
of Camborne (CamboUrne)
Dr’s Thomas & Gardiner
Dr’s Thomas and (Peter) Gardiner are listed in 1914 as operating in the
Camborne & Redruth areas, including at the West
Cornwall Miners’ & Women’s Hospital in West End, Redruth.
Moffatt
Irving P. Moffatt is listed in the 1906 trade
directory as operating from Market Place, Camborne and by 1926 has moved to
premises in Hayle. The photo below dates to 1912 and
shows a Camborne & Redruth tram bearing an advert
for ‘IP Moffatt / Dispensing Chemist / Camborne’.
