The London postal service once had to deliver a letter from India addressed as follows:
“The tool shop
opposite the Woolwich Ferry
London”
It arrived safely at its destination: A.D. Skillman & Sons, 108 Woolwich High Street, London SE18.
Skillman and Sons of Woolwich (founded by my grandfather Alfred Daniel in 1900) was a byword throughout south east England for generations. A sign used to hang up outside the shop:
“If you want it, we’ve got it. If we haven’t got it, you don’t need it.”
Every member of our family worked there over the years; I used to do holiday jobs selling packets of loose nails from the pigeonholes at the front, or stocktaking at the back, or peeling potatoes for my aunt in the flat upstairs or collecting stamps for her from the Co-Op in Hare Street, Woolwich.
Now of course Woolwich is seeing regeneration, not least through the beautiful Royal Arsenal Thames Riverside, together with the Greenwich Heritage Centre and Firepower, the Royal Artillery Museum very close by, and the wonderful Thames Barrier and Visitor Centre. All this regeneration is fuelled by the extension of the DLR from Docklands to Woolwich.
My grandfather Alfred Daniel started the business in 1900 further up Woolwich High Street and later moved it to number 108. My father Ken took over after the war. He was later succeeded by my brother Chris until the business closed in 2002.
But now Skillman and Sons has re-emerged. Not in Woolwich, but in Kensington.
That traditional tool-merchants business now has a new life, through the enterprise and imagination of another hardware store owner, Manish Vara, who is hoping to revitalise the Good Old Days of English service and quality – popularised of course through the current wave of nostalgia and euphoria generated by the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics. A different manifestation of Skillman’s, more hardware than tool-merchant, has emerged. My brother Chris Skillman, MD of Skillman’s of Woolwich, wishes Manish well.
Perhaps some time the story of the shop opposite the Woolwich Ferry, and its 102 years of history, may weave its way into my fiction. The River Thames has strong resonance for me – not least when I took the ferry across from Woolwich at the age of twelve or thereabouts, supposedly on a round trip. But I got confused, and disembarked in North Woolwich, across the river, and wandered around lost for about an hour though to me it seemed an eternity!
If you have an interest in the history of south London, and you’d like to know more, I have published a full article about Skillman & Sons in Family History Magazine, which is re-published on my official website under the heading “My family background.” Do click here to read the article.
Are there any traditional shops or longstanding family businesses in your town or area which are part of the landscape of your life? Has the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the tide of patriotism attendant on London 2012 opened up traditional Britain to you again? Please consider leaving a comment!
scskillman.com 
NICK HENNEY.
what memories of skillmans.I also worked at wheeler and clinch starting my apprenticeship at 16 and Steve Turner (a previous replyer) was a senior apprentice almost out of his time.On one of my visits to your shop he asked me to get a box of red sparks, no i wasnt that green but played along.I seem to remember an older man who worked at the shop who wore a grey overall who i think he was polish?Was never sure if he had understood what I had asked for but always came back with what i wanted.Many files and other tools i bought over the 7 years while I was at wheelers and some i still have. quality.
Hi, It was wonderful reading about Skillmans. My next door neighbour Jimmy, now sadly deceased used to drive the Skillman Plastics van and in my school holidays I would sometimes go along with him as navigator. I am looking forard to visiting Skillmans next time I am in Kensington, fascinating.
Thank you for your comment, and I’m glad you enjoyed my article, and it brought back good memories of the time when Skillman Plastics was in business.
Good day to you all … I just found this article after many years …. I wonder if Chris is still around ..? I had a cafe just down the road a couple of doors … Readysnacks .. I knew Chris well and I am sure he remembers me … I am now long retired and living in Deal …… Chris Mansfield
Hi Chris, good to hear from you. Yes, my brother Chris is still around, active and well, and living near Peterborough with his wife Freda. I’ll certainly pass your message on to him!
We lived in Hare St, over T.Fosters, which my dad managed,our door to the flat was up the alley way just down from your shop. As a child of about 8 I was sent to buy paraffin in a green can, it was so heavy to carry back all the way to the top of the alley.
I remember the lovely smell of your shop.
Just a thought was it next to Bessie’s the wonderful bakery?
About 1955 ish.
I showed your comment to my brother Chris who is certainly still around and since he retired is living up in Peterborough. He says that the wonderful smell in Skillman’s was “all down to how we oiled the shop floorboards.” He certainly remembers Bessie’s Bakery from his childhood and thinks that was the premises that became Chris Mansfield’s Cafe.
I’ve shown your comment to my brother Chris who is certainly still around and since he retired is living up in Peterborough. He says, “there is nothing like your cafe up here, I have had to move on to coffee shops!”
I’ve shown your comment to my brother Chris who is certainly still around and since he retired is living up in Peterborough. He says, “there is nothing like your cafe up here, I have had to move on to coffee shops!”
I showed your comment to Chris and he remembers you well. “He says there is nothing like your cafe up here in Peterborough, I have had to move on to coffee shops!”
I worked at cuffs in Woolwich, in 1970 till 76 , as part of the maintenance staff as a young lad, best time of my working life, we used to get all our tools and a lot of our materials from the shop, l remember being sent round to pick things up and looking at all the tools wondering if l could ever acquire a much wanted tool kit , from all the tools on display, used to get told off when l got back for taking to much time , l used to get stopped money from my wages each week which was put in a tool fund, and if you wanted to buy new tools you could, but you didn’t get the money back for them without a receipt, it was a great shop.
Thank you for your comment on my blog posts about Skillman’s of Woolwich. What a lovely memory! I’ve passed it on to my brother Chris who was the owner and manager of Skillman’s for many years, and now lives near Peterborough. I’m sure he’ll be pleased to read your recollections of life in Woolwich as a young lad, dropping into Skillman’s! Chris and his wife, and myself, and my sister, who all now live elsewhere, all still drop into Woolwich High Street whenever we are able to and visiting London, as we like to see what number 108 looks like now, and what business has taken over, and to visit the surrounding area! The Royal Arsenal Munitions and Ordinance looks very different now…
I showed your comment to my brother Chris, the former MD of Skillman’s, and who since he retired is living up in Peterborough. He says, “I certainly remember Cuff’s and when they eventually closed down, I bid for some of the display cases which we used in the shop.”
I remember Skilmans in the 1970s, I lived next door in the Jewellerlers. AJAshdown. I used to go in and there was a very stern woman, I assume mrs Skilman, that what I called her, she took no prisoners. I’m glad the business is still going
I grew up in the area and went to Woolwich Polytechnic Secondary School in Macbean street. I loved the shop. I would go round at lunch time and spend hours just starring at the tools in the window. very fond memories for me a big part of my school days
Thank you for your comment. How good to hear your memory of Skillmans. I can understand you gazing in the window for hours, as it was in its own way an Aladdin’s Cave of ironmongery (as I wrote in my original article about the shop).
I remember frequently going in there with my dad as a child, even though I live fairly local to Woolwich, I only go there now if I have to: (
I worked in Rope Yard rails,as a 16 year old apprentice,for Wheeler and Clinch ltd tool and mould makers.We used Skillmans all the time in the 60;s .I remember my boss sending me over for a 3/4 whitworth nut. and a grey haired lady.lifting a sweet jar down and asking me how many i wanted…i said;’ just one please’…and can i have a receipt as well please for the boss…i think it was 3 old pennies !!
Thank you for your comment, Steve; it was lovely to read your memory of Skillmans.
Posted to Plumstead People. FB . Thanks! greart Blog !
I am useless at DIY so rarely used the shop, but it was good to see it continue in business for so long. After the 1970s, Hare Street and that end of town seemed to go into decline. Woolwich High Street was such a characterful place as I remember it as a child in the 1950s- with its various pubs and the old Ferry Approach. Redevelopment did it no favours but into the 1980s it still had the little Italian restaurant next to Plaisteds, and of course, Skillmans! I haven’t visited Woolwich for about 5 years now but it would be good to see it further regenerated, and hopefully keeping some of the character that places like Skillmans gave the town.
Thank you for your comment, Richard. I’ve shown this to my brother Chris Skillman (former MD of Skillman & Sons in Woolwich High Street) who says: “Mario’s was the little Italian restaurant, and Woolwich, like a lot of London south of the river has moved on, as life always has! The Woolwich Arsenal development and new DLR link are all positive, as is the new micro brewery on the Woolwich Arsenal site.” Again many thanks for responding to the post.
Comment received from Susan C: “I enjoyed your blog post about the Tool Shop. I remember my mother saying to me, ‘I need a couple of nails from Skillman’s and for a treat we can have a trip on the Woolwich Ferry.'”
Comment received from Manish Vara by email: “Thanks for that Sheila, I’ve only just come back from holidays so apologies for the delay.
That’s a great blog; thanks for your comments and positivity.”
I have been thrilled by the responses to my sister Sheila’s blog on the tool shop by the Woolwich Ferry.
Not only is it good to know we were serving the local community with their needs, Skillman’s of Woolwich also supplied many local businesses, schools and hospitals.
Not to mention our more distant customers!
I also take pride in the local youngsters who started their working life at Skillman’s, and then moved on to other opportunities. In later years, we built up a team of early retired folk who brought their own wealth of knowledge to the local community.
They were good years!
Chris Skillman
The Skillman’s shop was beautiful and a lovely tribute to the old shop.
Thank you Abigail!
Enjoyed my time working at Skillman’s in the early 1980’s…thanks for the experience! Ken and Chris worked very hard to make Skillman’s the successful business that it was, and now through imitation (the highest form of flattery) the name will live on.
Thank you Kevin!
Here is a message I received from Patrick McNamee: “I just saw in the local paper that Skillmans is now an eatery. I haven’t been to Woolwich much in recent years and was so pleased to find your page detailing the history of the shop.
I used to shop there in the 70’s as a teenager for bits and pieces. One of the men told me how to dismantle my drill and grease it afterwards. Up until a few months ago I still had that grease! Nowadays there would be a ‘best before’ date on it.
I loved that shop, I dreamed of having some of the tools but never had the jobs to do that needed them!
As i think back i remember the wooden floor and the window displays. its a shame that we are all B&Q and Wickes, the character has gone.
So, thanks again for that page, it brought back fond memories of a time past….
It was places like Skillmans that give a town character. Such a shame it has gone. ….
My manager at work spoke of the shop in glowing terms yesterday too.
Best wishes
Pat
Thank you for your message. It is good to know how people appreciated the
shop at Woolwich. It is amazing how much a traditional shop like that, with
character & individuality, can mean to people. I’ve forwarded your message on to
my brother Chris, the former MD of Skillmans of Woolwich, & I’m sure he too will
be very pleased to read about your memories of the shop.