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The business was founded in 1888 by Mr Patrick Green, a member of a prominent local family, and was situated at 53 High Street, Ingatestone, now Avrohurst (see photo). Initially the firm traded as a general ironmonger, timber merchant, haulage contractor and builder and was also the village undertaker. The business prospered and eventually was split into separate companies with Patrick Green Ltd being responsible for the wholesale and retail supply of hardware, Ironmongery and building materials. In the early sixties the company moved to a new modern purpose built store on our present site at 49 High Street on land previously occupied by the Green family home, ‘The Limes.’
1905
Ian Miller, the present owner, joined the company in January 1984 as assistant manager, moving from a hardware store in Chelmsford. In 1988, Mr Alan Brooks, who had managed the business since its move to the new premises, retired through ill health and Ian Miller became manager.
The company continued to trade successfully as part of the Tom Green Group until April 2000 when a decision was made by the Green family to dispose of the trading companies. These were offered to the respective managers, with ownership of Patrick Green Ltd passing to Ian Miller in March 2001. Ian invited his father John, a Chartered Accountant, to join the company in addition to the three full time and two part time staff presently employed. The company also employs a student who works on Saturdays and school holidays as well as regularly taking local school students for work experience in conjunction with the Trident trust.
1965
`The town size store with village service'.
We believe our main strengths are good customer service combined with a huge range of items stocked, many of the items we currently sell have been added to our range at the request of customers. Most new customers when they enter the store for the first time cannot believe the size inside, generally once people have shopped with us for the first time they nearly always become a regular customer. We have been fortunate to employ reliable long serving staff, Ian has been with the company for 24 years, assistant manager Trevor 19 years, sales assistant Ann 20 years ,our part time sales assistant Bobbie-Jo has been with us nearly 8 years, Allan has been with us for 5 years and we have also recently been joined by Terry who works mondays and wednesdays and Robert our "Saturday boy" . We feel our customers get to know and trust the staff and can rely on any advice they are given. Behind the scenes but just as important, our accounts clerk Karen has also been with us for over 7 years
The company is a long established member of the British Hardware Federation and the Brentwood chamber of commerce.