In 1874, brothers William Hardy and John James Hardy started "Hardy Brothers" with the purchase of "Superior River and Sea Fishing Tackle" in Alnwick, Northumberland, England.[1]
In 1891, they patented and launched "the Perfect" fishing reel to complement the fishing lures they sold. It was successful and they received a royal warrant from King George V of the United Kingdom. They continued to create a variety of winning fishing reels, some of which had novelties including a complete bail arm and long casting reels.[2][3]
In 1897, they opened a shop in London's Pall Mall that lead to international expansion of their fishing rods, lures and guides still made by hand in England.[1]
In 1967, Hardy Brothers was bought out by the Harris and Sheldon group and in 1985 renamed the "House of Hardy Limited." It was later merged with a former Hardy employee's fishing company and renamed "Hardy and Greys Limited" in 2004.[1]
In 2013, the company Hardy & Greys was sold to Pure Fishing, a division of conglomerate Jarden Corporation,[5] that was later renamed Newell Brands. Newell sold Pure Fishing to Sycamore Partners in 2018.[6][7] In 2024, it was granted a Royal Warrant by King Charles III in recognition of supplying flyfishing tackle to the Royal Household.[8]
