Hardyments Hardware And China Store

A Memory of Kilburn.

In 1961/62 I used to have a Saturday job in Hardyments, on Kilburn High Road, a real old-fashioned store selling all sorts of china and hardware. The assistants had to wear a most unflattering blue wrap-around overall and we were strictly supervised by a lady called Miss Jennings who also took care of the cash which went up one of those chutes to the office above. People I remember include Diane Hood and Phillida Rowbotham, both Saturday girls like me and Danny who worked in the yard sorting out deliveries etc. I remember him taking me on a date to the State Theatre to see the great Miles Davis S, Danny was a modern jazz fan. For working all day on Saturday we earned £1!


Added 18 December 2011

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Comments & Feedback

I remember my mum working in Hardyments in the sixties. As i recall the store was split left and right, one side being for hardware and the other for china, glass and ornaments. I walked from where we lived in Victoria Rd to the store most saturday nights to meet her and help carry the shopping home that she had probably done in Gardners earlier in the day. I would have been around 8 at the time and remember well a lot of the staff in the store and the cashier that sat in a small cubicle between both departments. You got served by staff, went and payed the cashier and then returned to the staff that served you with a chitt and collected your goods. Mrs Clay, Robson, Blackwell and Lesley out the back in his brown coat are staff i remember well. Memories of good old Kilburn back in the day..
I remember my mum working in Hardyments in the sixties. As i recall the store was split left and right, one side being for hardware and the other for china, glass and ornaments. I walked from where we lived in Victoria Rd to the store most saturday nights to meet her and help carry the shopping home that she had probably done in Gardners earlier in the day. I would have been around 8 at the time and remember well a lot of the staff in the store and the cashier that sat in a small cubicle between both departments. You got served by staff, went and payed the cashier and then returned to the staff that served you with a chitt and collected your goods. Mrs Clay, Robson, Blackwell and Lesley out the back in his brown coat are staff i remember well. Memories of good old Kilburn back in the day..
I still use a Picquot Ware Alloy Tea set bought from Hardyments in the early 70's. Brews a wicked cup when using leaf tea. These days its called a mid century collectable ;guys in the antique trade know bugger all about dating things. A wonderful aladins cave of a store and yes, just like woolworths, it had the flying capsule cash system. It was a sad day when they finally closed down. They were probably the last of the ''heyday ''shops to go.

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