THE ENDURING LEGACY OF W HURST & SON – TRADING ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT SINCE 1859

It is forever change on our high streets as retail outlets come and go, but much-loved Hurst’s has been trading on the Isle of Wight for well over a century and a half.

What is now W Hurst & Sons was founded by Charles Wheeler in 1859. In that year, Queen Victoria was 22 years into her reign, the first standard post boxes were erected, and The Needles Lighthouse was first illuminated.

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The company began by manufacturing agricultural machinery, as well as servicing and repairing equipment in what was then a flourishing farming industry on the Isle of Wight. At that time, the business was based at Pan Foundry, near the old mill at Pan Bridge.

In 1886, Charles Wheeler purchased 33 Holyrood Street – which remains Hurst’s headquarters to this day, although it has now expanded along Crocker Street and Lugley Street.

The building was originally a Primitive Methodist chapel. The original flagstones from the church forecourt still form part of the flooring in the tool shop department.

The foundry was also moved from Pan to Sea Street. The Holyrood store became the offices and a showroom for the sale of ironmongery and other products cast at the foundry.

The name W Hurst & Sons was adopted in 1891 when William Hurst joined the company. From around this time, most of the manhole and drain covers on the Isle of Wight were made by Hurst’s. Many can still be found today.

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For most of the 20th century, agricultural machinery such as steam and horse-powered chaff cutters, mills, separators, ploughs and harrows filled the showroom, although Hurst’s iron and brass foundries continued to turn out castings of all descriptions, shapes and sizes.

It was also a blacksmith’s forge, with 3 farriers shoeing shire horses from the prison and paring cart-oxen’s hooves. Hurst’s also supplied and serviced milking machinery for the Island’s then 200-plus dairy herds up until the 1960s.

Under the leadership of Harry Chivers and Robin McLaughlin, Hurst’s began to expand in the latter half of the 20th century, opening a further 5 stores in Ventnor, Ryde, Cowes, Freshwater and Shanklin. It expanded its product ranges beyond ironmongery to include lighting, chinaware, glassware, housewares and gardening and outdoor living.

From then on, it became possible to buy practically everything from Hurst’s, from hammers and nails, crockery and tableware, irons and toasters, to barbecues and camping gear.

Numerous celebrities – including royalty – have patronised Hurst’s over the years. Alan Titchmarsh has been a regular customer. The staff of King Charles have  purchased items for his Highgrove Estate from Hurst’s too. There has even been a visit from Rap royalty – when Jay Z performed at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2010, he dropped in to buy some Wellington boots.

In 2006, new managing director David Bowley took Hurst’s into the virtual world by introducing an online store. Peter Hartnell became managing director in 2017, steering Hurst’s through the challenging COVID-19 years.

The current Managing Director is Jevon Kennedy. Under his leadership, Hurst’s have shown their commitment to the Isle of Wight community by selling yellow buckets with all proceeds going to Mountbatten, introducing IW Foodbank drop off points and recently agreeing to sell plants on behalf of Care In The Garden.

To further improve customer service at Hurst’s, the retail space in Newport and Ryde has been redeveloped and a learning and development programme launched.

Jevon Kennedy, Managing Director, says of his company:

“One thing we have done at Hurst’s is to maintain our old-fashioned values, celebrating our DNA but also reviewing how the world is changing. Our role at Hurst’s is to give friendly, helpful service, and that’s our mission as a company, to put customers first.”