TR Hayes

General information

The shop covers seven floors, incorporates over 20 surrounding properties, employs a dedicated team of 55 staff and has built up an impressive customer base. A customer car park can be found at the side of store.

TR Hayes is all a far cry from the early 1800’s when the Hayes family became chair makers in the East End of London. The outbreak of the First World War and the arrival of Zeppelins over London, was to have a decisive effect on the family’s fortunes. Their premises were bombed out and Thomas decided it was time to leave the city with his disabled wife and sons William, Humphrey and Thomas Richard junior. Fortunately one of the flourishing firm’s major customers was Bath Cabinet Makers so it was decided to settle there and TR Hayes established a workshop on the former humpback bridge over the canal in Widcombe. The family began contributing to the war effort by making wooden parts for the air frames of the Bristol Bulldog fighter aeroplane.

After the war, family life returned to normal and the business started to grow. Still enterprising at the age of 70 and with an eye to the future, Thomas Richard Hayes decided that he wanted to expand and, not hampered by today’s planning restrictions, simply built a 20ft long extension to the property out across the pavement and that is why The Ram is so prominent in Claverton Street today. He worked on into his 80s until his youngest son Thomas Richard junior, took over the reins and moved the firm to the former Three Crowns pub at Walcot in London Street in 1920. Having been bombed out of their Bethnal Green workshop in the First World War, one could have forgiven the Hayes family for thinking they might deserve to escape the worst effects of World War Two. Thomas Richard was in his mid 40s during the war and while he was never called up because of poor sight, he and his trusty van was used as an emergency ladder carrier saw service with the Home Guard. His wife sadly died some ten years after the war so his son and later successor Derek Hayes, the third generation member of the family was taken out of school to assist in the business.

Derek Hayes was soon joined by his wife Margaret have each spent an impressive 60 years developing and expanding their business into the hugely successful and furniture emporium that it is today. The expansion and improvements to the business continue apace now assisted by the couple’s sons Richard and Christopher. With their help the business looks set to continue to thrive and prosper for many years to come.