DO you remember this lost Hereford shop?

Wilson’s hardware store was a staple of the Oval throughout the latter half of the 20th century, offering locals a variety of household wares, cleaning products and other goods.

The owner, Gordon Wilson, is said to have set up the shop after fleeing the Mau Mau uprisings in Kenya and continues to be well-remembered in the city for his helpful and gentlemanly manner.

The store closed in the mid-1980s and the Oval is now mostly home to outlets run by chain brands such as Subway and Morrisons.

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Members of We Grew Up in Hereford have been reminiscing and sharing their memories of the long-lost hardware store.

Clive Wilce said: “The shop had a distinct aroma of paraffin and other chemicals.

“It also had a grid type frame suspended from the ceiling with loads of stuff like laundry baskets hanging for it for sale.

“Such a friendly guy.”

“Used walk up there to get paraffin amongst other things,” said John Jordan.

“My sister Linda took me there to buy me a birthday present, it was an underwater diver you put baking powder in and it dived and surfaced in the water.

“God, I was cheap to run in those days.”

Kathy Doorne chimed in, she said: “I loved that little shop too.

“Like a lot of people are saying about getting paraffin from there. My mum used to send me there to buy some as well, couldn't swing a cat in there.

 “Also on the right of the shop was a fruit and veg shop, I think.

“Also was there a bread and cake shop next to that.”