Ironmongers

A proud portrait of English craftsmanship at the dawn of the 20th century

This powerful image, taken around 1900, offers a rare glimpse into the lives of ironmongers in the rural village of Burchett’s Green, Berkshire. Eleven men pose in front of a workshop stacked with metal tubes, tools, and the signs of skilled manual labour. Some wear aprons and work clothes, while others—perhaps owners or foremen—stand in bowler hats and waistcoats, their pride and camaraderie unmistakable.

The central figure, seated with a pipe in his mouth and hands stained from work, epitomises the spirit of an era when trades like blacksmithing and metalworking were at the very heart of British industry and community life. Behind them, the orderly arrangement of materials hints at the precision and discipline of the trade.

This photo is more than just a portrait—it’s a tribute to the hands that built the infrastructure of a nation.

📍 Burchett’s Green, Windsor and Maidenhead, England 📷 Photograph circa 1900

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