1890
The Hiron family first entered the butchering trade in 1890, Fred Hiron the 1st ran a coffee shop in Hackney which was the place locals would go to buy their meat supplies. Fred ran this set up for many years, buying his produce from Smithfield market and delivering meat by horse and cart to the local area.
1920
Hirons Butchers was opened by Fred Hiron the 1st, (Scott’s great, great grandad) in Bow, Hackney in 1920, following on from the success of his coffee shop meat supply.
Image: Left to Right, Sons: Sidney Hiron & Fred Hiron II, Mabel Hiron and Fred Hiron I
1933
Fred I died in 1932, his son, also Fred (II), took over the family business in 1933, joined by his brother Sidney. They ran under the name of Hirons Brothers and opened a second shop in Stonebridge Park around 1933 and then another in Heather Park, Wembley.
Image: Left to Right, Len Hiron (third son of Fred I) & family friend, Kipper.
1933-1947
Hiron Brothers continued for another 14 years, and in that period, they bought a further 2 shops in Walthamshow.
Image: Left to Right, Fred II and brother Len.
1947
In 1947 Fred Hiron II died in a car crash whilst collecting turkeys for Christmas trade, his brother Sidney took over the running of 3 of the shops, and Fred’s wife Lily continued to run the Heather Park shop with her two sons, Fred III & Peter, this was the beginning of Hiron & Sons.
1950-1980
During this period, brothers Fred III & Peter opened shops in Ealing Road, Pitts Hanger Lane, Medway Parade, Northolt, Burnt Oak, Kingsbury, Queensbury, Croxley Green, Amersham, Radlett & Hillingdon.
Over the course of this period, the brothers had a stable livelihood in what was thought to be a very stable trade, at one point having 10 shops open in various locations around London at once.
1981 - 1984
In 1981 the brothers sold off 3 shops and bought a small supermarket in a bid to enter the market which was thriving at the time, with competition tough, it sadly didn’t work and got sold on.
Things got even harder for the butchering industry as supermarkets really took hold of the markets throughout Britain, and between 1982 and 1984, the brothers sold a further 3 shops to try and save what business they had left. Peter's son (Steve), bought one of them.
1984-1987
Having worked in the family business for a while alongside his father Peter and uncle (Fred III), Steve ran the Kingsbury shop with his business partner Ron until 1987, until Ron bought him out. Scott (Steve's son), had just been born at this time and Steve had a year out of the industry.
1987-1998
1987 was a year of change, Fred III and Peter sold one of their last two remaining shops, leaving just one premises open under the name of Hiron & Sons in Croxley Green. Fred III decided at this stage it was time for a complete change of life and he moved Devon, leaving Peter running the Croxley Green shop. This shop managed to survive the hard times because it was also ran as a sausage factory, making about 5 tonne of sausages a week, which were sold to other shops, restaurants and supermarkets.
Steve (pictured left), returned to working with his dad in the shop and in 1998 bought the freehold from Peter.
2005-2008
In this time, Steve bought and sold a second shop in London, then decided he was going to move to Devon, he rented out the Croxley Green shop.
2010
Two years out of the industry and Steve decided he desperately wanted his own shop to run again so he bought a shop in Chalfont St Giles, London. He would work 4 days in the shop then go back to Devon for 3 days. He did this until a shop came up for sale closer to his now home in Devon.
2012
Steve finally had the opportunity to buy a premises in North Devon, and in 2012 he sold the London shop and bought 10 Mill St in Bideford which had operated under the name of Honeys for a long time.
2018
Scott, after being advised by his dad his whole life to not become a butcher, finally decided that it was indeed what he also wanted to do. After years of working in the motor industry in London, Scott was in search of a lifelong path that would feel truly meaningful, hands on and local. He believed that good health was directly linked to good food, and wanted to create a place that would connect local people with the best, nutrient dense, local meat available. Ethical, transparent and sustainable farming practises were key, and he searched high and low for the best local farmers and producers the Southwest had to offer. His goal was to create a shop that was valued by the community, offering the very best quality produce available.
2020
Steve retired around 2020. The shop has continued to go from strength to strength under Scott's ownership and is well supported by a loyal customer base spreading from Bideford, as far as Okehampton, Croyde and Braunton.
