Comments on: Remembering London’s Oldest Ironmonger

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Sun, 19 May 2024 14:51:20 +0000

I am almost dizzy thinking about the memories that have nestled here, filling every shelf and
nook. The inscriptions — both the uncovered ones, and the still-secret — give us a glimpse of how people felt about this place. (“Good by”, Old Bill”, etc) The scribbled labels, the concocted letters spelling out “LEWIS” (I loved that detail!), the hammered initials on a carriage shaft. As if everyone who ducked into this place wanted to leave their mark — and be part of the collective memory. I imagine cradling some of the old wobbly cardboard boxes in my hands, looking inside, and afterwards — the metallic smell that would linger. The “skin” of the walls and doors — paint tenaciously clinging to wood. “Paint supplied by the Great Western Railway”, huzzah and hurrah.
Thank you — bear with me if I linger here today, and spend hours in the aisles. Luckily, I have packed a lunch and a thermos of coffee.

By: M D West

M D West — Sun, 19 May 2024 12:41:00 +0000

Many thanks for these photo-archive on the ironmongers. I was particularly interested in Flex-O-Metal which was plywood faced with thin sheet metal* ( * various metal types available…not to be confused with the modernFlexometal iron loaded plastic sheet

By: Annie S

Annie S — Sun, 19 May 2024 08:25:17 +0000

Thank you for the very interesting article, I know that area quite well and remember when the firm was still open. I didn’t realise that they were in Hackney Road before the canal came along!
I love the bombed out building, I’m amazed that it’s still there – I notice the grounds are used for parking vans. There’s so much redevelopment going on in the area I wonder what will eventually happen to it.

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 19 May 2024 07:20:26 +0000

However did these offices survive with all the clutter of paper? But I always worked in an organised mess! Nettlefold box bought back memories as my dear Mother in Law worked at Heath Street in Birmingham! She was moved from Coventry after the blitz to make shells for the war! x

By: achim

achim — Sun, 19 May 2024 06:34:56 +0000

The increasingly rare ironmongers were always important. It is only when they are no longer there that you notice their absence. In Kassel, Germany, there have only been two shops in recent decades: EISEN-KRUG, which was founded in the 1950s, has now closed down — the owner is retiring.

Now there is only EISENWAREN KOCH, where you can still buy individual screws and rare “old-fashioned” household goods. The shop was founded in 1902 and is therefore 122 years old. I go there regularly to buy something. And every time I visit, I ask them not to give up and to keep going!

Love & Peace
ACHIM