About

Traditional, Family Run Hardware Shop

Rhayader is the oldest town in Mid-Wales, situated on the famous River Wye with the Elan Valley Reservoirs nearby with excellent fishing. The area is a great favourite for walkers, mountain bikers and all who wish to visit the breathtaking Cambrian Mountains.

Situated in the centre of Rhayader is one of the oldest businesses in the town- Hafod Hardware. The shop is a traditional old fashioned Ironmongers with wooden flooring and walls and ceiling lined in pine.

The shop is not “Open All Hours”, but we have been open since 1895.

Evan Williams of Llanidloes established an Ironmongery business in 1895, situated in the premises next to the bridge in Cwmdauddwr, which is presently “Home Furnishers”. At that time most of the shops were in Bridge Street due to the railway station being close by.

According to the original handwritten Bill of Sale, Richard Ryder bought the business from Evan Williams in 1903 for the sum of £550, and he continued trading in Cwmdauddwr until he built the shop premises in East Street, known as Hafod. Everything was transferred to the new shop in 1930, including the big iron shed which is still in use today.

When Richard Ryder died, the business passed to his son, who always seemed to be known by his initials – R.L. (Ryder) and many people thought his name was “Harold” which sounded similar to R.L.

In 1982, after R.L. passed away, the business was bought by John and Liz Lloyd. They removed the dividing wall across the middle of the shop, thus doubling the shop area.

It is worth mentioning that Edgar Price, of Rhayader, worked for the Ryders and the Lloyds all of his working life until he retired in 1999 – over 50 years.