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HISTORY OF HARTS
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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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www.hartsofstur.com