BSHP Peter Homan Small Grant Award: 100 Years of Portsmouth, 100 years of Tremletts Chemist!

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In 2026, Portsmouth marks 100 years since it was officially granted city status. ‘Portsmouth 100!’ is planned as a year-long celebration of the city’s rich heritage and bold future . This is an excellent time to celebrate community pharmacy in the city.

The Portsmouth History Centre is working in collaboration with the Tremlett family and the School of Pharmacy, University of Portsmouth, to put on an exhibition about the history of local pharmacy. Tremletts Chemist was a family-run business at the heart of community pharmacy in Portsmouth for 100 years. Started by Percival Gordon Tremlett in 1901, three generations of the Tremlett family built the business from the flagship Fratton Road pharmacy to 11 stores in the local area. The opening of a miniature ‘Tremletts Chemist’ in Southsea Model Village (2021[1]) prompted a deluge of memories and nostalgia from both former staff and customers. Any mention of Tremletts Chemist on social media groups consistently gains hundreds of posts remembering the kindness and availability of staff members, as well as lots of memories from former staff themselves who still keep in touch. This project therefore taps into the local enthusiasm for a local pharmacy to engage the community with pharmacy history.

The Peter Homan Small Grant will enable the funding of a researcher to locate and research antique pharmacy instruments, photographs and other documents held by the Tremlett family, and gather information on the history of the pharmacy. An exhibition will be held in the Portsmouth History Centre from May – November 2026 to display these objects and history. The aim is to then donate or loan many of these objects and documents to Portsmouth Museums, as well as publish an article on the history of Tremletts Chemist.

Figures below: January 2026. Mr Bill Tremlett showing some examples of antique objects from Tremletts Chemist to staff at the Portsmouth History Centre and his daughter Annabel Tremlett. There are many more objects to discover for the planned exhibition from May - November!