'Olde Worlde' hardware shop

[Snadger]

I am lucky to haev a good old fashioned Olde Worlde' hardware shop close by. You know the type, just about anything for sale, stuff stacked precariously on shelves, that certain 'smell',knowledgeble and helpful staff.
It is now my first port of call as you can buy as many nails or screws as you like by weight. Its cheap (tile cement at B&Q for £30, same tile cemnt in shop £11)
Whilst waiting to be served I was perusing seed packets at 60p each and the pile was getting bigge by the minute.

Nope, you can keep your B&Q's and Wickes, give me the 'Olde Worlde' hardware shop anytime.

[veggiechicken]

We used to have "Arthur's but sadly, no longer. Rust in peace, Arthur.
I was told he was the inspiration for Open All Hours?

Arthur was so well known that there are some Youtube videos of him, Haven't watched them so apologies if they're rubbish! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJl6gGD8uuI

[lottie dolly]

there is a similar place not far from us,know what you mean about the smell,is an agraculteral hardwear{Vipans}

[mothhawk]

Can you buy forkandles there, Snadge?

[Snadger]

Can you buy forkandles there, Snadge?

You can buy one if you like!

[Small pumpkin]

We’ve got one. In the big bright lights of Tobermory. Unfortunately The pricing is more inline with Harrods you need to take out a mortgage to buy anything!

[ESBkevin]

Yes I love those kind of shops. Often with a small frontage, but go back and sidewards into rooms and sheds full of wonders. You can get a swan kettle or a bar of cast iron blacking alonside a socket panel for CAT 5 cabling. And if you want Hose!!!
We have a fairly modest one in out small market town high street, 30 years ago there was another that was just wonderful and supplied cut timber, glass etc. as well.

For anyone visiting the eastern counties, here are a couple of gems:

In Clare near Lavenham.
Hardware Shop in Sudbury : Hudgies Hardware

M.L.Walsingham 78, Staith Street, Wells next the sea.

In Diss
Cookware Shop | DIY Store | Gardening Equipment | Larter & Ford

Right in the wilds near the suffolk village of Bacton is a hardware/ironmongers/horse/agricultural/builders store
J Lawes Ltd, Finbows yard, station Road, Stowmarket

These are the kind of places I can get lost in on a rainy afternoon.


In Felixstowe
Underwoods
https://www.underwoodhardware.co.uk/

[roitelet]

Here’s one from the Westcountry, Trewarthers in Callington Cornwall. Across the road they have their Wedding Dress department!! I kid you not!

[rary]

She didn't want one she wanted 4
Sadly there are no longer a hardware shop like that round here now, even the big one in Glasgow has shut, I was in H-base today looking for some screws I need 6 for a job that I am doing £3. need to wait till I can get into wilcos who are the ones that sell them loose though its £2. odds for filling a bag with screws, washers nuts and bolts just as well they can be mixed

[veggiechicken]

A local-ish one for me in Cowbridge https://www.arthurjohn.co.uk/ironmongers/

[Chestnut]

Not sure if it’s still there, but there used to be a shop in Aberystwyth called ‘Charlies’. Not strictly a hardware store, more an ‘everything except groceries’ shop.
Could happily buy a checked shirt, tent, hacksaw blades, pair of size2 school shoes, kitchen scales, set of bath towels, hula hoop , garden rake and a fish tank all in one visit

[JanieB]

We had a wonderful one that was inherited by a nephew. He didn't want to run a hardware shop so ran it into the ground and sold the building off. A local businessman has taken on the name of the business as a sideline to his own. It is very welcome but doesn't offer the same "nails by the lb" and expertise that the original shop did.

We do have a "junkyard" not too far away that covers the expertise and nails by the lb, but, there's always a but. You have to have a car, and in my experience there, and I'm a regular and well known customer of over 40 years, they are a load of misogynistic ar***oles. I still go there for stuff as it saves me a trip to a major town or city for basic things that used to be easily available locally.

[veggiechicken]

Not sure if it’s still there, but there used to be a shop in Aberystwyth called ‘Charlies’. Not strictly a hardware store, more an ‘everything except groceries’ shop.
Could happily buy a checked shirt, tent, hacksaw blades, pair of size2 school shoes, kitchen scales, set of bath towels, hula hoop , garden rake and a fish tank all in one visit

If its the same Charlies they had a branch in Carmarthen that I used to visit. They even have a branch in Queensferry that may be nearer you!! https://www.charlies.co.uk/store-locations

[Scarlet]

I have one near me...well a little drive but not only does it sell gardening stuff and metal working tools but it also does cake stuff - and much better than I could get in Bath! It really does have room upon room and goes on forever!

[bikermike]

McKays of Cambridge - more of a proper tool shop, but they have all the fixings, a sheet metal department etc.