Hello Jonathan, I hope you're well.
I saw your mention of the above on the Facebook group yesterday. I came across a couple of reference to this company in a few of my Abingdon local history books. I don't know if you have any of this already from anyone else, but in case it's helpful, this is what I found in the books:
From "Ock Street Remembered", published by the Ock Street Heritage Group
Entry for Beadle's Hardware Store, 30 Ock Street:
"In 1919, Bertram Beadle from Sussex, who had been wounded in WW1, applied successfully for a job as an assistant at the Brind, Gillingham hardware store at 30 Ock Street. A hardware store had originally been opened in these premises by the Coxeter family in 1836. In 1898, Coxeters sold out to two former employees, Mr Brind and Mr Gillingham, who also started a wholesale department in the location of the old British School directly opposite. A serious fire in 1938 destroyed all but the front section of the premises and because of the war commencing soon after, only primitive replacements were allowed to be built. The shop was sold in 1939 to Ilcos electrical retailers in Oxford. They closed the business and in 1951 sold the shop to Mr Beadle". It then goes on to talk about the history of the shop once Mr Beadle owned it.
So Mr Brind - alas no first name mentioned and Mr Gillingham had two premises in Ock Street, the above mentioned number 30 and another premises opposite. there's no photo of that in there.
There is a small picture in the book of Mr Brind and Mr Gillingham at a trade show. It is unfortunately undated. Mr Brind is on the right and Mr Gillingham on the left.
I've attached pictures of the premises (taken from More of Abingdon Past and Present) and Mr Brind (from the Ock Street book). The picture showing the garage Merityre, is from 2000 but it looks exactly the same today.
I'm not really sure which Mr Brind it is - if anything else turns up, I'll let you know. It's a shame no first name is mentioned in the books I have! The Mr Brind picture is very small so I can't get a better image of it I'm afraid.
Kind regards, Alyson
This was probably Robert Whitehead Brind, an Abingdon based ironmonger in the 1901 census. Scroll down to see photos.
Brind and Gillingham Ock St.
Brind and Gillingham Ock St premises in the 21st century.
Mr Brind and Mr Gillingham.
Mr Brind undated image.
Brind Gillingham catalogue or circular.
Brind Gillingham correspondence.