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City's oldest hardware shop to close after 160 years

Alice Bouverie
Senior Journalist
'Oldest shop' in Bristol to shut after 160 years

A store owner says "160 years of history will be coming to an end" once he officially closes the doors on the city's oldest hardware shop.

W.H.Mogfords & Sons in Bristol is an old-fashioned hardware shop, which sells everything from nails and rabbit food to candles and slug repellent.

Paul Gillam, who took it more than 20 years ago, made the reluctant decision to close following five years of dwindling footfall and unsustainable staffing numbers.

The shop will remain open until the end of August, though Mr Gillam is still yet to announce a precise closing-down date.

Paul Gillam is smiling at the camera inside his hardware shop. He is wearing a grey t-shirt and black framed glasses. The shelves are full of DIY supplies like paintbrushes, grout, paint and tape.
Paul Gillam has owned the shop in Westbury-on-Trym for the last 20 years

Until the last 20 years, the shop on the High Street in Westbury-on-Trym had been run by the same family.

Mr Gillam said giving up the reins was "a difficult decision, but it's the right one".

"There's lots of different reasons - Covid-19, Amazon, less people on the high street, utility bills going up, lots of things have come together," he said.

"It's really been with the closure of the banks in the last two years that sealed it. That was the final straw because the footfall just dropped off."

The owner of Mogfords Paul Gilliam is standing behind the counter of his shop
Mr Gillam said taking the decision to close has been sad

Mr Gillam said when he first began working at the store 30 years ago there were five members of staff on shift every day.

Now that figure has plummeted to two, and Mr Gilliam believes "going forward that's just not sustainable."

"I know many many people will miss the shop, and a lot of the customers come in every week and they're like friends now. It's really sad."

A picture of the outside of W.H. Mogford & Sons
W.H. Mogford & Sons has served the people of Westbury-on-Trym for 160 years

Melvyn Griffiths is a long-standing customer of the shop, and described it as a "proper Mr. Arkwright's" tool emporium.

"You can get everything you want here. It goes back years, and it's got everything you need in small quantities," she said.

"It'll be absolutely gutting for the community to lose it. I'm sure everyone locally will miss it like mad when it's gone."

A general view of the hardware shop. The shelves are full of DIY supplies and household items, including pet food, cleaning spray, antifreeze, dog treats and bird feeders.
Mogford's is a hardware shop where you can buy just one nail if you need it

Colin Clarke said the closure means he will have to instead turn to corporate chains like B&Q for supplies.

"I'm absolutely devastated. This shop has been here since Queen Victoria's time," he said.

"This is the centre of the community - it's going to be well missed."

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