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The oldest ironmonger in the country is to close after having traded in Oxford for 480 years.
Gill and Co is shutting its Oxford store and will move all stock to the businesses’ sister store in Chipping Norton.
Owner Vince Hunt blames declining sales, the gradual loss of an older, more loyal customer base and the tendancy for younger customers to favour the big DIY stores.
Hunt bought the business 10 years ago and opened the Chipping Norton branch six years ago.
Gill & Co first opened in 1530 during the reign of Henry VIII and saw off 20 monarchs, 76 Prime Ministers, the English Civil War and two World Wars .
