Buckenham Locksmiths Ltd

Family locksmith with over six decades in North London

Buckenham Locksmiths Ltd is a fourth-generation locksmith founded in 1959 by Arthur George Buckenham. The company presents itself as a family business that has served the homes of Highbury (N5) for over sixty years and has been a member of the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) since 1966. Its current workshop is located in Potters Bar, where it also has a shop and free parking for customers.

Origin and evolution of the business

Arthur George Buckenham was working in a hardware store when, arriving one morning, he discovered that bailiffs had closed the establishment. After speaking with them and explaining that he had not been paid his wages, they allowed him to take one item; he chose a Yale hand key cutting machine. With it, he rented a shop on Gillespie Road and launched Buckenham Locksmiths. In its early days the business was dedicated to key cutting, repairing oil heaters, replacing sash window cords, scissor sharpening and lock fitting.

In 1970 Jen and Don, the founder's daughter and son-in-law, joined the business, and they are still at the helm. Don specialised in car locks and keys, a service used by numerous local garages and dealerships. In 1993 Helen, Jen and Don's daughter, joined as a bookkeeper. Don was one of the first people in the UK to purchase a car key programming machine for transponder chip keys. In 2002, the growth in stock and staff led to a move to 158b Blackstock Road, premises they occupied until 2023. In 2012 Jack, Helen's son, the fourth generation of the family, joined, and he has modernised the workshop with computerised machinery and has turned the company into the UK's main distributor of Wendt German locksmithing tools.

Services and products

The activity combines locksmith services with the sale of products, both in-store and in the online shop. Notable services include key cutting, special order keys, car keys available in store and entry fobs. The catalogue includes locks and cylinders from brands such as Asec, Union, Yale, Chubb, Mul-T-Lock, Abus, Assa, Abloy, Ingersoll, Era, Arrone, Eurospec, Sterling, Vier and TSS, as well as handles, hinges, door closers, padlocks, batteries, helmets and bike bags, and an Olympia X20S cordless angle grinder. The company states that it has thousands of products available for same-day dispatch and that shipping is free on orders of £100 or more.

Specialisation in car keys

Don, the founder's son-in-law, developed the specialisation in car locks and keys, with service for local garages and dealerships. The company was one of the first in the UK to incorporate a transponder chip key programming machine. The shop offers car keys and products such as the ignition barrel for Ford Transit and Custom.

Wendt tool distribution

Since Jack joined in 2012, the company presents itself as the UK's main distributor of Wendt German locksmithing tools, whose catalogue is prominently featured on the website.

Team and community presence

The team consists of Arthur Buckenham (founder, 1919-1995), Don, Jen, Helen, Jack and Darren. In 2022 the company made an advert with Arsenal Football Club featuring Leah Williamson, captain of Arsenal and the England team, and Tony Adams, a member of the Premier League Hall of Fame. The advert was shared on social media and shown at the Women's North London Derby match at the Emirates Stadium.

Location and contact

Unit 5b, The Enterprise Centre, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar EN6 3DQ · Phone: 0207-226-8734 · Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:00