Two families, one High Street, and the engines that changed farming
The history that shaped Dr John's practice – from a Victorian shoemaker at 107–109 High Street to the Kent engineer behind Perkins Engines.
Five stories from the family shelf
Each one opens as a PDF you can read or save.
Charles Wallace Chapman and His Family
The forgotten genius behind the diesel engine
A Navy officer and engineer who sketched his first engine at home in Strood, Kent, and made diesel engines light and fast enough for cars and tractors.
107–109 High Street and Its History
200 years on Margate High Street
From a Victorian shoemaker to Mr Chapman's gift shop, before we were the vet's.
Clare Marie Wallace-Chapman and Her Family
Blood groups, food and a family of authors
Does your blood type say something about you? And why do cats and dogs have blood groups too?
Perkins Engines and Farm Life
From the tractor to the vet's
Two Peterborough engineers, the country vets who served the farms, and a link back to Kent.
H. J. Wallace-Chapman and the Family
The quiet author on the family shelf
A book on recognising the signs of psychosis, and how pets can help people through hard times.
Meet the vet carrying it forward
Dr John Alexander founded the practice in 2023 to bring personal, experienced care to Margate.
About Dr John
Around 200 years on Margate High Street
Our building has stood on the High Street for around two centuries, from shoemaker to gift shop to vet's. We look after it as carefully as our patients.
How the stories meet
The building
A Victorian shoemaker
107–109 High Street begins life as a working shop.
Mr Chapman's gift shop
The building changes hands but keeps serving the High Street.
Vintage and Alexander Wallace Veterinary Practice opens
Now a Grade II listed home for pets and their people.
The family
Perkins Engines is born
Charles Wallace Chapman, who sketched his first engine at home in Strood, Kent, co-founds Perkins in Peterborough.
Engines for the world's farms
At one time, around one in five tractors worldwide ran on a Perkins engine – and country vets followed the farms.
The tradition continues
Alexander-Wallace Health Care Ltd carries both families' names.