Bishops Hardware Shop Permanently Closed

I was very sad to learn that Bishop's Hardware Shop on Park Road, Crouch End, almost opposite Middle Lane, has closed permanently. It had long been a delightful anachronism, the type of shop we won't see the like of again. Run by the family since at 9 Park Road since 1959, the store offered the kind of personal service that, beyond rare stores like this one, you only find these days in the type of shop that has a security guard standing outside. Its departure is a real loss to the area.

It follows the demise of Thomerson's timber store on Middle Lane in April 2019. the owner of which were relate to the Bishops by marriage

The Thomerson shop had been there for even longer. William C Thomerson opened the premises on the site in 1921 as a branch of his builder's business. At this point, the address was 7, The Pavement. The address changed to 20 Middle Lane in the mid 1920s. In abut 1973, the business became a timer merchant, still trading under the Thomerson name. Before 1921, the premises had been a builder's premises since 1909 when it was run by Philip Dunham. 

Thomerson advert from Kelly's Directory, 1931

I will miss Bishop's as I miss Thomersons. I used both regularly, but, like many of us, not regularly or frequently enough.