[3] After significant growth due to a move into online mail order, the company relocated to Widnes, Cheshire, in January 2016 and Hattons would later close down on 4 February 2024.

It was around this time that Meccano wanted to offload a large quantity of stock, and they sold the lot to Hattons for a fraction of what they were worth.

[8] Following the deaths of her father and brother, Christine Hatton took over the running of the company along with present managing director Richard Davies.

Further, the Smithdown Road building needed to be brought up to modern standards and the lack of parking outside the store was inconvenient for customers.

[15] In 2021, Hattons were set to release a range of 4 and 6 wheel coaches in OO gauge, representing the trains that would have been commonplace in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[17] Hattons began to buy and sell secondhand model railway items, diecast vehicles and plastic kits in 2013.

So much so, that they expanded their operation to include a new sub-brand called Hattons Model Money,[19] which took the form of a new website where customers could list their items online and receive a free valuation.

[20] Products sold included locomotives, model vehicles and aircraft, scenery, track, tools and paints.