Many shops have come and gone in Wymondham over the years, but still going strong after almost 150 years is Clements ironmonger’s on Fairland Street. Affectionately known by local people as ‘Fork Handles’ (or ‘Four Candles’), Clements offers a helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable service with a personal touch to its customers. We sat down with George Squires to talk about the nuts and bolts of running the oldest shop in Wymondham.
Can you tell us about the history of Clements and your involvement?
We still trade under the original name, but we’re not related to the Clements. My surname is Squires although many people call me Mr Clements. We’re a Wymondham family and the third family to own the business.
It was established in 1875 by the Clements family. C.C. Clements (Cornelius Cuthbert) died quite young at 44 years old, and his wife took over and then the son, Jack Clements, who ran the shop until about 1942. He then sold the shop to the Oldfields family who had an established ironmonger’s shop in Dereham, and they held the business until my wife and I took over in 1981. I started here as an apprentice in 1957 when I was 15 years old. I then moved away, did more training, and managed a shop in Lowestoft before returning four years later when I was invited back by then manager, Mr Sidell, who was retiring. Then in 1980 Mr Oldfield came over and asked if I was interested in taking over the shop as his sons weren’t interested. So my wife and I decided to take on the challenge and purchased the business in 1981. As the shop enjoyed a good name, reputation and loyalty base we saw no benefit in changing the name, so it remained Clements.
How has Clements changed over the years?
The shop has always been an ironmonger’s but has changed somewhat over time. This area is very agricultural and Clements used to sell ploughs, combine harvesters, etc. Even when I started in 1957 we had a high turnover with farmers, selling cattle and chicken feeding equipment, agricultural machinery and scythe blades. I always remember my first job was taking delivery of scythe blades and I was told: “Be careful, they’re very sharp!”.
We used to have two shops, the other one was on the corner of Bridewell Street and Market Place and is now a nail bar. They had that for 20 years, until about 1920. There used to be a display area for harvest machinery where the Ex-Service’s Club is now. As well as the sales ground, Clements owned other buildings in Brewery Lane where the stables, hayloft and the delivery cart were kept. We still have a warehouse on the corner of Friarscroft and Brewery Lane.
Apparently, we were also a wholesaler for retailers at one point. I’ve spent most of my life here and collected quite a bit about the history: photos, receipts, etc. That painting on the wall is of the other shop and is dated 1907.
We’ve come away from the agricultural side and nowadays we sell decorating materials, tools, domestic hardware, ironmongery (screws, etc) and LPG gas canisters for heating – last year that was 10% of our sales. Products change, obviously, and perhaps we are more a plastic monger’s now than an ironmonger’s!
We’ve got a good, loyal base of customers and we offer a personal touch, which larger places don’t. For example, we sell odd nails or screws whereas other places sell pre-packs of everything. Another element to the trade is key cutting and locks. My son, David, is a very practical person and he trained as a locksmith. We also do engraving next door - that was a storeroom when we bought the business and we converted it into a shop to let. It was a cycle shop, then a video hire shop, and then it became an engraver’s which my wife took over and ran. We still run it as an engraver's and Colin does that. It’s been quite successful - we do trophies and brass plates for doors. During the Covid period when club activities ceased we closed it down, but we’ve gradually got it going again. So key cutting, locksmith and engraving all add to the services we offer.
Have you seen many changes in Wymondham and Fairland Street over the years you’ve been here?
Wymondham has certainly changed and one quite big change was when the one-way system came in. That was a setback for business, and we’ve never really recovered from it. On Fairland Street, when I first started here, we had the Woolpack Pub where Myhills now is; what was Wardrobes was another DIY shop, and there have been several shops there (now it’s a delicatessen); there was the blacksmith’s where the Forge is – I used to love the smell of the horses from there; there was another café and sweet shop where the Hideout now is; and there have been various other businesses come and go.
Who else works with you in Clements?
There’s my son, David, who is a partner in the business. Then we’ve got two part-timers: Richard and Colin who’s also the engraver. Our secretary, Mary Snelling, sadly died last year. She was with us from 1965 and kept going well into her eighties. She was a wonderful lady, so committed and conscientious. After that, our accountant recommended we go on to computers. Fortunately, David is mastering that side as I’m a bit old-fashioned and non-tech - I wouldn’t even know how to switch a computer on!
I’ve cut down on my hours and now do 35-40 hours a week. Before I did 60-70 hours, which David now does. We’ve had challenges with Covid and the cost of living – overheads have gone up – so I’m here to support him. He’s keen to carry on with the business, which I’m pleased about.
My wife, who took over the shop with me in 1981, passed away in 2009, then my other son, Kevin, who also worked here, died suddenly in 2013. He was with us for 30 years since school and was top-notch. We made both our sons partners. David has been with us 20 years now and I’d like to see him carry on with it as long as he can.
Finally, what are the challenges and rewards of running Clements, and what does the future hold?
All businesses have challenges these days, for obvious reasons. I think the rewards are the relationships you have with customers, many who become friends, so it’s a social lifestyle. And we provide a service for Wymondham. Profitwise, we’ll never be millionaires, but it’s an interesting trade and we enjoy it. We stock just over 5,000 lines and stock changes with new products. We can’t stock everything but we provide orders to needs. We are proud to be able to serve Wymondham as we have over the years.
Christmas is almost here now and it’s a busy time for us – many people buy practical presents and we usually run a Christmas promotion which is quite successful.
We’re looking forward to the year after next, 2025, when we’ll celebrate our 150-year anniversary, and we’ll hopefully still be here!
