175 YRS AND COUNTERING

Exhibition charts rise of a health and beauty giant

- NATASHA WYNARCZYK

IN 1849, John Boot opened his first shop, selling herbal remedies to industrial workers who were unable to afford the drugs sold in regular pharmacies.

In the following 175 years, Boots became a health and beauty giant.

Along the way, Boots chemists invented ibuprofen, No7 became the country's Nol skincare brand, and there was a spell when there were even libraries in branches.

Boots is now celebrating its 175th anniversary with a free exhibition in Nottingham, home of its first store.

Pharmaceutical bottles from the 1920s, No7 cosmetics from the 50s and Advantage cards from the loyalty scheme's launch in the 90s are among 250,000 items from the archives on show at Counter Culture: 175 Years of Shopping at Boots.