The ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ and ‘treasure trove’ will be greatly missed by locals who describe it as being “part of the furniture”
The shop is packed with every conceivable DIY, gardening and pet product(Image: Paul Gillis/Bristol Live)
A Bristol shop said to be the oldest in the city is set to close in a matter of months after more than some 160 years in business.
WH Mogford & Son, which is located on the high street in Westbury-on-Trym, is a traditional hardware shop and former ironmongers which has been in the same spot since the 1860s (an ironmongers even 20 years before that).
WH Mogford & Son’s owner Paul Gillam, who has worked in the shop for some three decades, penned a message to the shop’s Facebook followers on June 14.
The post said: “After 30 years in the business and knowing it’s long history, sadly I have come to a very difficult decision to close the business permanently by the end of September 2025.
“I have come to this decision due to the continuing decline in customer numbers, the increasing costs of stock, staffing, bank and utility charges and the desperate state of repair of the rented premises.
“I would like to thank the many local customers who have supported us over the years.”
Paul took over the business in 2004 but had worked for the previous owner since 1995. After various jobs, he had always wanted to run his own business and was actually looking to buy another shop.
When the previous owner, the last in the line of the original Mogford family, was a couple of years from retirement, he told him to hang on as he wanted him to take it over. And, since then, Paul’s daughter Sophie has even worked in the shop with him.
WH Mogford & Son owner Paul Gillam, left, and daughter Sophie with staff members Kevin and Phil(Image: Paul Gillis/Bristol Live)
Back in 2022, after the M Shed had dubbed the store the oldest shop in the city, BristolLive reported how, along with a small team of full-time and part-time staff, Paul and Sophie ran the shop as simply as it was when they took over.
As well serving in the shop Sophie, who did business administration at college and previously worked at a solicitor firm, took over looking after the book-keeping since her nan retired.
The shop itself has been described as an Aladdin’s cave of DIY, gardening and pet supplies, and part of its popularity over the years has been the fact that you could still buy individual items rather than having to spend more money on multipacks of things you may not need – be it a single nail or just one Rawlplug.
During the pandemic, the team recalled how one gentleman would walk to the shop each week to buy 10 screws for 1p each, just so he could have a chat with staff.
Just a few years ago, BristolLive reported that the shop was still well supported by those living around Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze, with a number of local schools also having accounts with the shop so caretakers could buy products here, rather than from wholesalers.
Taking to the comments section, locals and customers were quick to share their heartbreak at the news of the shop’s planned closure.
One said: “Very sorry to hear this. Have known the shop my entire life, as grew up, and still live, in Westbury-on-Trym.
The hardware shop and ironmongers as it was in the 1920s
“My father used to sell the spare parts for Tilley StormLight paraffin lanterns to the tall slim chap, always thought his name was John Mogford, but not certain of that.
“There will be many many saddened people when they hear this news. Mogfords has been a much loved and relied upon business in the village throughout generations.”
A second commented: “A huge loss to the village, you will be very much missed. My sons call your shop ‘the shop that sells everything’.
“As a fellow business owner I am aware of the significant rise in operating costs over the last few years. I can’t imagine how difficult this decision has been for you.
“On behalf of the local community a huge thank you and best wishes for your next ‘chapter’.”
While a third wrote: “I’m sorry to hear about this Paul. I was born in Westbury-on-Trym in late 1940’s & I knew Mogfords Ironmongers shop well until I left in my early teens.
“Have returned to the local area on several occasions over the years and made a point to see it.
“The shop is like part of the furniture that makes the village and will be surely sadly missed.”
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