MORE than 115 years after HB Pitt in Trowbridge first opened, family is still at the heart of the business.

Originally an ironmonger, HB Pitt later became a household name as a one-stop shop for kitchenware and gifts.

Manager Ann Mason will close the store’s doors for the final time at the end of the month after struggling to compete with internet shopping.

Founded by HB Pitt in 1900, the ironmongers was initially based in Roundstone Street. In 1912 the business moved to Silver Street, on the site of the old Queen’s Head pub which closed in 1856.

When Mr Pitt died in 1958, his two sons Herbert and Frederick carried on running the business until their sister Mary Willis sold the shop to Mrs Mason’s parents, Alleyne and Jessie Wisbey, in 1978.

The Wisbey family decided to keep the HB Pitt name, but extended the premises in order to broaden their offering.

“It has always been a real family business,” Mrs Mason said. “We have had the young and the oldies working here.

“Long-term staff have seen their children become Saturday girls so everyone has been included.

“When my dad took it on, he never expected we’d still be around now.

“He started to make it more of a gift shop and less of an ironmongers.

“Mrs Willis feminised the shop when she took it over and then dad started to sell more kitchenware and gifts.”

“Over the years trends have changed,” she said. “When figurines were popular, we used to have people in here whenever the newest product came out,” she added.

The shop has seen many changes over the years including the introduction of sugarcraft classes and demonstrations. Mrs Mason, who has been running the shop for 21 years, said she organised the sessions to accommodate women who were unable to make the evening classes at the college.

“It must be at least 30 years ago that my parents and long-term staff member Mrs Baston thought it would be a good idea to be able to do sugarcraft – and it went from there.”

The Grade II-listed two-storey building with its historic frontage will close at the end of the month.