S. Tray Ironmonger, 249 Mitcham Lane, Borough of Wandsworth, London SW16, 2001 • Traditional ironmongers with traditional name, now long gone (it became half of Spa – note, not Spar – Foods).
S. Tray Ironmonger, 249 Mitcham Lane, Borough of Wandsworth, London SW16, 2001 • Traditional ironmongers with traditional name, now long gone (it became half of Spa – note, not Spar – Foods).
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With photos by Vici MacDonald and poems by Tamar Yoseloff, Formerly is a beautiful little chapbook which is just £8.00 online – you can buy it here
Shopfront Elegy 
I had my first ‘Saturday Job’ here age 15, I lived at that time a short walk away. It was a treasure trove of ironmongery. It was possible to buy just one screw (for example) and Stan (the ‘S’ in S Tray) was a mine of information.
His father ran the shop before him, and there was always a display on the forecourt of fencing wire, dustbins, etc.
To the left of the shop (as you look at it) was a butchers.
Thanks for the comment, that’s great to know. I always had a soft spot for this shop and it’s wonderful to have some history. Stan – that’s a proper ironmonger’s name.
Indeed a a proper ironmonger’s name! He was also a master at the art of reverse writing in the ‘whitewash’ type paint on the inside of the shop window..
In that terrace of shops (I’m going back to the 1960’s/70’s here) also was a butchers, a cafe, and a pet shop while on the opposite side of the road was a bakery/post office, greengrocer, fishmonger, grocer, tobacconist/newsagent, and a hairdresser.
I think it’s sad to see these types of shops have now all but disappeared.
I agree, it looks very different round there now.
I should add, this pic is so old it is shot on film! So sadly not as clear as some of my later pics. But a beautiful shop, glad I caught it while it was still operating. It was en route from my home to my mum’s, so I often drove past it.