Yew Tree Hardware Shop

A Memory of Yew Tree.

My parents had a shop on Maple Drive called Yew Tree Hardware Company. It was no. 24 Maple Drive. When I was a child 'Bentons' was next door. The row of shops had a tobacco/newsagent, (Hobbs) then a green grocer the other side which was Bentons, then a butchers, Daniels, and Gillards had a grocery shop.
My Dad, Sid Pymm, managed the ground floor. He sold paraffin, coal and 'proper' hardware- screws, nails, paint, bolts. The shop was full of shelves with little boxes and we weighed out the nails into paper bags .

I used to serve in the shop in school holidays.
My Mum, Margaret, had the upstairs department and sold toys, wool, haberdashery and baby clothes. She was a lady who liked to chat. She helped people to choose wool and knitting patterns.

Dad delivered the paraffin and coal so that people without cars could manage.
The steps outside the shop displayed the large items, like dustbins. he had a trestle table which was set up outside each day with different wares on it.

They sold the shop when they retired, and it became a dental practice. The shop front was replaced.