This handsome double-fronted brick building was originally a private residence, built on the site of the Falcon public house which was demolished in the 1750’s.  By 1865, this building had become Speechly’s chemist and druggist.  This business had relocated from a shop at the foot of the High Street, since incorporated into the rear of the George Hotel.  The proprietor, George Speechly, is of note as an early pioneer of photography in Bishops Stortford and produced many of the earliest images we have of the town.

The brick façade of this building was remodelled in the 1860’s, in Tuscan Trecento style, and reflects a similar remodelling across the road at no 9, the entrance to NatWest Bank.  Each of the columns has a decorative carving of medicinal herbs and plants, reflecting the business of the shop, dating from 1885.  The carving was carried out by Italian masons who were working on mosaics for the alter at St Michael’s Church.

Speechly was joined in 1883 by Arthur Milbank and retired from business in 1892.  The business became Speechly and Milbank.  Both men were to become substantial pillars of the local establishment.  During the 1880’s and 1890’s the business was also an agent for W &A Gilbey, wine and spirit merchants. 

The shop’s  final phase as a pharmaceutical chemists was under the Kingswood name.  After 1982, it became the bookshop part of Boardman’s, stationers and booksellers, and then White Stuff.  It has since reopened as no. 14, a bar/restaurant.

The life-size white hart over the entrance was made in 1862 for the barracks of the Ist Herts Light Horse at Silver Leys, Hadham Road.  When this disbanded, it was taken by Major William Holland and relocated to Holland and Barratts grocers shop, at the corner of North Street and Barretts Lane where it remained until this was redeveloped in the 1980’s to become HSBC Bank.