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Daniel Lewis & Son Ltd, Hackney Rd

As you can see, illustrator Eleanor Crow shares my love of ironmongers. “The inventive displays and signage of hardware stores make these my favourite shopfronts,” she confessed to me, “I have only to see the serried ranks of brooms, pots, latches and pans to be reminded of some useful item that needs purchasing immediately.” Alas, three favourites have closed recently but we trust the others will be fulfilling our architectural ironmongery and plumbing requirements for years to come.

C W Tyzack, Kingsland Rd

Bernardes Trading Ltd, Barking Rd

Bradbury’s, Broadway Market

Chas Tapp, Southgate Rd

Emjay Decor, Bethnal Green Rd

General Woodwork Supplies, Stoke Newington High St

Diamond Ladder Factory, Lea Bridge Rd

Farringdon Tool Supplies, Exmouth Market

Histohome, Stoke Newington High St

KAC Hardware, Church St

Leyland SDM, Balls Pond Rd

KTS the Corner, Kingsland Rd

Mix Hardware, Blackstock Rd

City Hardware, Goswell Rd

Travis Perkins, Kingsland Rd

SX, Essex Rd

Illustrations copyright © Eleanor Crow

You may also like to see Eleanor Crow’s other East End illustrations

Eleanor Crow’s East End Cafes

Eleanor Crow’s East End Bakers

Eleanor Crow’s East End Fish Shops

and read about more ironmongers

At London’s Oldest Ironmongers

Receipts from London’s Oldest Ironmongers

Photos from London’s Oldest Ironmongers

At General Woodwork Supplies

At KTS the Corner

At MG Ironmongery & Hardware

At City Hardware