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HODGES FISHMONGERS 194 ALEXANDRA AVENUE HARROW MIDDLESEX HA2 9BN 0208 422 8937 |
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WELCOME - SOME HISTORY
THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO THE SHOP THAT IS HODGES FISHMONGERS. IT HAS EXISTED IN ITS PRESENT FORM SINCE 1954. MY GRANDFATHER, HENRY JOHN HODGES TOOK THE SHOP AFTER WORKING FOR MANY YEARS IN THE BERMONDSEY AREA OF LONDON. AFTER THE WAR, HE WORKED IN THE ARCHES IN SOUTH HARROW MARKET FOR A DIFFERENT FAMILY, THE LOWES. HENRY WORKED HARD, WAS VERY POPULAR AND DID WELL IN THE MARKET. IN '54 HIS FAMILY MOVED TO HARROW, HE LEFT THE ARCHES AND THE SHOP WAS TAKEN OVER.
FORMERLY A BAKERS, THE SHOP WAS DECORATED WITH A SERIES OF MURALS AND DESIGNS BY MR xxxxxx, A FAIRGROUND PAINTER WHO IN THE WINTER, WHEN HE HAD LITTLE WORK, PAINTED PANELS IN THE SHOP WITH IMAGINATIVE DESIGNS FROM HIS HEAD.
SMOKED FISH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WAY OF PRESERVING AND DRYING FISH TO MAKE IT LAST LONGER, AND TO GIVE IT A SPECIAL FLAVOUR. OUR SHOP WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SMOKE HOLES. TO CURE THE HADDOCK, COD, KIPPERS AND SALMON WAS A DELICATE PROCESS, AND THE METHODS ESTABLISHED IN THESE EARLY YEARS ARE STILL USED TODAY
AFTER MANY YEARS HENRY BECAME LESS WELL AND MY FATHER MICHAEL JOHN HODGES WHO HAD BEEN WORKING THERE FOR xx YEARS, TOOK OVER THE DAILY RUNNING OF THE SHOP.
MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE PURCHASE OF THE FREEHOLD AND IT MEANT THE SHOP COULD BE EXTENDED, AND PLANS WERE GRANTED TO BUILD THE FRIED SHOP NEXT DOOR.
I HAVE WORKED AT THE SHOP SINCE I WAS A YOUNG BOY. I CAN REMEMBER WASHING COCKLES IN A BUCKET AS ONE OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES, TURNING THE WATER AROUND FAST AS POSSIBLE TO WASH THE SAND FROM THE SHELLFISH.