Retro images inside famous Chesterfield shop as business prepares to leave town centre home

Pharmacy John Dent is relocating to Chesterfield’s Avenue House Surgery this month – after serving customers from its store on New Square since 1903.

The future of the photographic department at Dent’s remains uncertain however, with bosses hoping to find new ownership for the business which has recorded family portraits, holidays and celebrations for more than a century.

Acting manager Mark Ludbrook said the team of three staff on the department, who have clocked up between 15 and 38 years of service, were disappointed but had their fingers crossed a new owner could be found.

"We are disappointed not only for ourselves and the company but also to those customers that have been loyal, supportive and provided us with such wonderful stories behind their photos over the years,” Mark said.

The photo section opened in 1905, two years after the pharmacy was launched.

These photographs show views inside the pharmacy, looking through into the photo section, and inside the photo department itself.

Dent’s administration manager Jayne Boyer said last month that she was ‘relieved’ the pharmacy had found a new home but knew some customers would be disappointed.

She said: “Customers, staff and the Dent family will be very sad to leave our position in the town centre that we have had since 1903, but with retail in the doldrums and the recent pandemic, the New Square site has proved unprofitable to maintain.”

Charles Tankard, grandson of John Dent and company secretary, said he was ‘very saddened’ the photographic department was not part of the move, and Dent’s board would support staff in their bid to find new management.

Mr Tankard said staff at the pharmacy were now looking forward to continuing to serve people in Chesterfield and open a new chapter for Dent’s.

"I believe the Dent’s name is very important, there are not many family businesses left in the modern world, especially that have been around for 118 years, it really is quite an achievement,” Mr Tankard added.

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