The Ironmonger, or hardware store in the US, is now a scarce sight on the high streets of Britain. The term ironmonger can trace its history back to the middle ages though the spelling has changed over the years.
Originally the ironmongers would attend village markets and set their stalls up in close proximity to one another. Thus names such as Ironmonger Row were born. Cheapside in London was the home of ironmongers as early as the reign of Edward I (1239-1307), but smoke and fumes from their forges forced a move closer to the river Thames. By 1463 the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers was incorporated and was one of the twelve great City Guilds of London.
As establishments became permanent in towns and cities in the 16th and 17th centuries, rather than the travelling stall around local markets, signs above shops began to appear. To distinguish the ironmonger from the other sellers on the high street the most popular ironmonger shop sign was the golden key, though others such as padlocks would also be seen. The original base goods of the ironmonger were hand crafted or forged agricultural or household items. Items made by the blacksmith such as horseshoes and nails or wrought iron tools were the mainstay of the ironmonger’s ware. However, as time progressed the ironmonger became more of a general store and had to move with the times. The industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries bought about innovation and mass production. The ironmonger to survive had to evolve from supplying local hardware to encompass new product from internationally renowned companies. During the mid 19th century the ironmonger became stockists of woodscrews, paraffin burners, flush toilets, phonographs and sewing machines. These general ironmongers or ‘furnishing ironmongers’ had their heyday and demise in the Victorian era. Many of the lines stocked by furnishing ironmongers such as cycles, electrical goods, china etc became the stock of specialist shops. For example, cycles became a sports accessory rather than a main form of transport. Consumer demand was changing during this era too with modern suburban houses being built requiring small, lighter gardening equipment. These new homes had better sanitation and the old ‘tin bath’ was being replaced by permanent built in facilities.
Post WWI the ironmonger by and large faded away with the department store or specialist stores taking their market. New products were becoming disposable and the repair services offered by the ironmonger on items such as cooking ranges or gardening equipment became less and less in demand. A few examples still survive if you know where to look in some of the older established towns and a wander inside some of the more traditional ones can transport you back to the days when the ironmonger was king.