Monthly Archives: March 2011

I learned this week that I may be eligible to become a Glasgow Hammerman at ‘near hand’, due to the endeavours of my father, grandfather and great grandfathers.  I feel ridiculously tempted by this possibility despite the fact that my DIY efforts usually end in failure.  I think the temptation is to do with wanting to be associated with people who know how things work, being part of an organisation that values people who learn about and pursue trades that are to do with sustaining society … the builders, plumbers, carpenters and electricians.  And, perhaps, follow my namesake grandmother who, aged 80, wrote in 1951 that she had just ‘bought a brickmaking machine … in goes the earth and cement, pull down the handle and up pops the brick’.  I don’t expect it was that easy but I admire her readiness to roll up her sleeves.

Last week the Into Ironmongers exhibition enjoyed reminiscences about the Pencuik ironmonger that had closed.  This week, visitors discussed present and future ironmongers.  Liane, who works in Marchmont Hardware, visited with her daughter.  Liane’s mum worked in the shop and Liane did a regular Saturday stint there before studying engineering at unversity.  She brought those skills back to the shop where she now works fulltime.  Customers benefit also from her grandad being a glazier.  ‘When someone came for advice about repairing a sash window, I did a drawing to explain, as well as being able to provide what they needed’ she said.  Another visitor was Gordon from Auchincruive, the Scottish Agricultural College.  He highlighted the connection between ironmongers and transition towns.   He suggests that just going into an ironnmongers is therapeutic.  Their readiness to listen and understand whatever challenge you take along, leaves you feeling healthier, more upbeat and ready to face the world.  I so like this!

The Into Ironmongers exhibition opened in Penicuik Town Hall today and prompted many people to recall Wilson’s, the local ironmongers shop that closed some years ago.  Several described the shadowy ‘upstairs’ where assistants would head, often when confronted with a challenging request, and then return shortly afterwards with the required item. 

One man recalled going to Wilson’s many years ago and asking for tent pegs.  The ironmonger shook his head, there were no tent pegs in the shop.  ‘But come with me,’ he said, heading upstairs.  The ironmonger lifted a handful of 6″ nails and a hammer and sat down by a vice.  ‘How many do you need?’ he asked.  The customer did a quick calculation and in no time the ironmonger hammered out a set of ‘tent pegs’.  Thus one happy Penicuik family was ready to set off on their camping holiday.

The exhibition will be in Penicuik Town Hall again next Saturday 19 March from 10.00am-2.00pm.  There are children’s activities and a great home cooked community cafe as well as a chance to learn about the Penicuik Community Development Trust.

I was browsing the Pitlochry Hardware Centre website and noticed that even during the winter its open every day of the week, at least for part of the day.   Hunkered low near the bottom of the main street with an Alice in Wonderland doorway that many stoop to enter, it looks deceptively small from the outside.  Yet it has a fabulous stock serving a very wide local community and caters cannily at the same time for the many tourists that have Pitlochry on their map.