In 1896 two wholesale chemist companies called Arthur S. Hill & Sons and Davy, Yates & Routledge merged to form Davy, Hill & Co. In 1909 Davy, Hill & Co. merged with Hodgkinson, Clark & Hicks to form a limited liability company, Davy, Hill & Hodgkinson Ltd. In 1909 this company amalgamated with Hearon, Squire & Francis and Barron Harvey & Co. to form British Drug Houses Ltd.