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HISTORY OF HARTS
Our family business for over 95 years
t the age of 17 , Walter Hart , an apprentice blacksmith and our current MD Philip Hart ’ s grandfather , joined the Royal Field Artillery as a farrier . In 1920 , Walter was demobilised from the army , and he established his own blacksmith business in Sturminster Newton , just a brief canter away from where we are today .
His reputation gradually grew and so , in 1941 , Philip ’ s Uncle Bill joined the family business , helping his father shoe horses , mend cart wheels and do other general repair work . In 1945 , Walter ’ s second son , and Philip ’ s father , Eddie , finished his national service in the RAF and joined the burgeoning family firm .
In 1949 they outgrew their small workshop , and new premises were constructed on the fringes of a marshy area of town called Butts Pond , and we still call this home to this day . Around the time of the new forges , it was decided to branch out . As Eddie was never that fond of horses , he started retailing agricultural ironmongery , and manufacturing basic farm implements .
By 1973 , with work as a farrier in decline , the manufacturing side of the business had taken off , and a brand new factory was built to support this success . Eddie had created a major manufacturing business , and chose to refuse offers from leading national companies to buy him out . He saw the greater value , like today ’ s generation , in seeing the family business continue .
An early picture of Walter Hart shoeing a horse . An original anvil and shoeing tools are on display in-store .
The current MD Philip Hart joined the business in 1979 , and set about transforming the retail shop from an agricultural supplier into a modern , country department store . The old forge buildings were demolished , and a purpose built shop and offices were erected . Today ’ s store encompasses many departments , including , of course , Kitchen .
Eddie Hart ( right ) pictured with the Duke of Gloucester . Harts were well regarded in the UK farming community .
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