The Hildreths family has been providing a service to Prestwood for over 400 years. It began with a blacksmiths which catered for the rural locality until the 1960’s. The original blacksmiths was where the hardware shop now stands. Iron work can still be found around Prestwood and Great

Missenden.

 

The business branched out into ironmongery and in 1958 the shop was extended which saw the opening of the china and glass department as well as a large range of hardware. The hardware shop has always been expanding carrying more products and now boosts a large pet shop.

 

In 1976 the garden centre was built which added a large car park in between the hardware shop and the garden centre. The garden centre was a success from the start offering Prestwood an abundance of

gardening goods at fair prices.

In 1998 The tea rooms and gift shop were added which were converted from old barns belonging to a house where the second car park now is. When the carpark was built a large monkey puzzle tree had to be chopped down. The wooden furniture benches in the café are made from the same tree.

 

The business has been passed down through the family over the centuries and is run today by Richard Hildreth and manager Martin.