Historic Williamsburg

51. Prentis Store

Williamsburg, VA

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The Prentis Store on the north side of Duke of Gloucester Street is located on Colonial Lot 46. In 1700 the trustees for the City of Williamsburg deeded the property to local apothecary Dr. Archibald Blair, under the agreement that he would build a home on the property within the next 24 months. Blair evidently failed to live up to his end of the bargain, because the property reverted back to the city. In 1715 the trustees granted the property to William Timson. Blair somehow became owner of the property again and established his apothecary practice on the site by 1719. He originally used an earlier structure built by Timson, but demolished Timson's building and erected his own around 1736. Archibald's property passed to John Blair Sr. after his death. John Blair and his business partner John Prentis ran a merchandising business from the old apothecary until 1775. The Prentis Store, which was restored between 1928 and 1931, currently markets items that were created by the artisans of Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Trades.