128A: Oxford Nails (former Gill’s Ironmongers)
Gill’s, Oxford’s much-loved ironmonger used to have a shop in the Wheatsheaf Yard, behind No. 127 High Street. (The shop, ironically, is now the Oxford Nails salon.)
Gills was one of the oldest firms of ironmongers in the country, dating back to the mid-sixteenth century, although it was not always called Gill’s.
The Oxford shop closed permanently in August 2010:
- Oxford Mail, 8 July 2010:
“Oxford ironmonger’s to close after 480 years”
Their Chipping Norton branch, which opened in 2004, will close at the end of August 2026:
- Oxford Clarion, Bluesky notification on 31 January 2026
The last and smallest of the Oxford premises of Gill's was here In Wheatsheaf Yard off the south side of the High Street. It was in the parish of All Saints until that church closed in 1971, and is now in the parish of St Michael-at-the-Northgate Church.
From 1816 (and probably long before) until 1925, this ironmonger’s shop was at 5 High Street (now the eastern end of Lloyds Bank) in the parish of St Martin's Church at Carfax. The Gill family, however, only became involved in the business from about 1840.
In 1783, the proprietor was Thomas Bush. He died at the age of 76 and was buried at St Martin's Church at Carfax on 9 January 1823, and his only son Thomas Bush Junior, who had been apprenticed to his father on 2 July 1802, died less than two months later at the age of 42. On 2 August 1827 at Carfax, his daughter Elizabeth Bush married his former apprentice Charles Pilcher (both of that parish), and by the time of Robson's Directory of 1839, Charles Pilcher was listed as the ironmonger at 5 High Street.
On 12 October 1839 Charles Pilcher announced in Jackson's Oxford Journal that he had gone into business with James Gill (1814–1879):
CHARLES PILCHER
(Late Bush and Pilcher,)
IRONMONGER AND MANUFACTURERBEGS to announce to the Nobility, Gentry. Members of the University, and his highly-valued connection generally, that he has taken into Partnership Mr JAMES GILL Jun., in connection with whom the business will be carried on in all its branches as heretofore; and, in returning his thanks for the liberal support himself and the late Mr. Bush have for so long a period received, solicits a continuance of the same on behalf of his partner and himself.
Charles Pilcher gave the business to James Gill shortly afterwards. Gill then went into partnership with his cousin George Ward, younger brother of the Oxford Mayor William Ward, and by October 1846 the name of the business was Gill & Ward, and they are duly listed thus at 5 High Street in Gardner's Directory of 1852. In 1863 Gill & Ward advertised that they would provide estimates for the approaching Illumination to mark the marriage of the Prince of Wales.
The name Gill & Co. first appears in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 23 April 1870 in an advertisement for their lawn mowing machines, garden seats, chairs, tables, vases, fountains, garden rollers, seed protectors, hanging baskets, and earthenware propagating boxes.
The three sites in the High Street occupied by Gill's Ironmongers
5 High Street (by 1839 to 1925, and also at No. 4 from 1890 to c.1910)
The ironmonger Thomas Bush is first listed in the High Street in 1816, but was probably also there in the eighteenth century. His shop is specified as No. 5 in a directory of 1839.
There was a fire at 5 High Street in May 1890, and Jackson's Oxford Journal of 11 October 1890 reported on the rebuilding work and the expansion of the business to include 4 High Street:
IMPROVEMENTS AT TRADESMEN’S ESTABLISHMENTS.—Messrs. Gill and Co.’s premises in the High-street, which were partially destroyed by fire on April 2nd, have been re-constructed. The house front, which was greatly damaged, has been partly taken down and re-built. The whole of the roof is new, and there has been a great structural alteration in the interior, on account of No. 4, which was held by Messrs. Mawer and Son previous to the fire, now being added to Messrs. Gill and Co’s premises. The ground, second, and third floors are formed into spacious show rooms and stores, the first floor being reserved for offices, lavatories, &c. This establishment will now comprise some of the finest show rooms in this part of the country. The whole of the re-building was executed in the remarkably short time of ten week. Messrs. Christopher and White, of Bloomsbury-square, London, were the architects, and Messrs. Symm and Co. the contractors.
On 25 June 1892 Jackson's Oxford Journal reported that Gill & Co had immediately taken advantage of the new electricity supply in Oxford and had 26 lamps in their shop window.
In about 1910 Sainsbury’s moved into 4 High Street and Gill’s had retreated back in No. 5:
127–128 High Street (1925–c.1953)
In 1922 Barlow & Alden Ltd and Ison, Kidman & Watts amalgamated under the name of Gill & Co. Ltd. When Sainsbury’s at No. 4 expanded into No. 5 in 1925, Gill's moved across the road to 127–8 High Street.
128A High Street (c.1953–2010)
In about 1953 Gill & Co moved to its final, smaller premises (numbered 128A High Street) at the rear of their shop. At this date they were described as “ironmongers, heating engineers & plumbers”. They remained here until they closed down in 2010.
Ownership of the Gill company when it was at 5 High Street |
||
Year |
Name |
Details |
1783 |
Thomas Bush |
Ironmonger, and Manufacturer of Brazery and Tin-ware |
1794/5 |
Thomas Bush |
Ironmonger |
1816 |
T. Bush & Son |
Ironmongers and braziers, High Street |
1823/4 |
E. Bush & Co. |
Ironmongers, braziers, & tinmen, High Street |
1839 |
Bush & Pilcher |
Ironmongers & braziers, High Street |
1839 |
Charles Pilcher |
Ironmonger, 5 High Street |
1842 |
Pilcher & Gill |
Ironmongers & braziers, 5 High Street |
1846, 1852, 1861 |
Gill & Ward |
Ironmongers & braziers, 5 High Street |
1876 |
Gill & Co |
Ironmongers, gasfitters, &c., 5 High Street |
