From Pub Worker to Healer: The Inspiring Journey of Giles Roberts in Bridport

In the heart of Bridport, a remarkable story of ingenuity and healing dates back to the late 18th century. Giles Roberts, born on April 21st, 1766, at the Ship Inn—a venue now known as the Bridport Arms—transformed from a humble pub worker into one of the town's most celebrated medical figures. Despite lacking formal qualifications, Roberts pursued his passion for medicine, eventually becoming a local chemist in 1788. His early foray into the medical field was met with skepticism, as he had obtained a license to perform various medical procedures, including bloodletting, tooth extraction, and cauterization of wounds. However, the trust he garnered from his patients propelled him to further his knowledge. In a significant turn of events in 1794, local patrons rallied to raise funds for Roberts to study at Guys and St Thomas's Hospitals in London. His return with legitimate medical credentials reassured the community, silencing critics and allowing him to expand his practice. Roberts established a laboratory in Bridport where he engaged the public with science lectures and experiments. This environment of innovation led to the creation of "The Poor Man's Friend," a patent ointment he began selling in 1798. With a marketing flair that would be admired today, he made extravagant claims about the ointment's capabilities, asserting it was a "certain cure" for a multitude of ailments, including ulcerated legs, burns, scalds, and even cancerous humours. His promotional prowess ensured the ointment's popularity surged, becoming a staple in households for over a century. The secret recipe for "The Poor Man's Friend," now preserved in the Bridport Museum, reveals a concoction of pig fat, beeswax, and small quantities of lead, bismuth, and zinc oxide, with added rose and lavender oils for fragrance. While modern pharmacists acknowledge that some of its components could have provided therapeutic benefits, the inclusion of lead and mercury would render it unsuitable for contemporary medicinal use. The name itself was a stroke of genius, resonating deeply with rural communities who revered the ointment for its purported effectiveness. Its fame spread beyond the borders of Bridport, as emigrants carried the product to distant lands like Australia, South Africa, and Canada, where remnants of the ointment's packaging are still discovered today. After Roberts passed away in 1834, his legacy continued as his apprentices, Beach and Barnicott, took over the production of the ointment. This lineage of craftsmanship persisted until 1903, when Edgar Beach took the reins, with production continuing until 1946. Even as late as 1965, Beach & Co were still fulfilling requests from around the globe, underscoring the lasting impact of Roberts' creation. Today, Giles Roberts is fondly remembered in Bridport, not merely as a chemist but as the visionary behind "The Poor Man's Friend." His story, intertwined with the history of the town, serves as a testament to the innovative spirit of a man who, against all odds, found a way to heal his community. This narrative, along with many others, can be explored in detail in "Quirky Bridport," a publication available at the Bridport Museum, where the echoes of Roberts' legacy continue to inspire.