NEW 1991 LOAN AGREEMENT


         This LOAN  AGREEMENT  dated June 30,  1998 (this  "Agreement"),  by and
between The Stanley Works, a Connecticut corporation, (the "Company"), as lender
hereunder, and Citibank,  N.A., a national banking association,  as trustee (the
"Trustee")  under  a trust  (the  "Trust")  which  is  maintained  under a trust
agreement  effective  June 29, 1998  between  the  Company and the Trustee  (the
"Trust Agreement").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:


      WHEREAS,  effective as of January 1, 1987, the Company and the predecessor
trustee established an employee stock ownership trust for hourly employees which
was known as the Stanley  Works  Savings  Trust for Hourly Paid  Employees  (the
"Prior Hourly ESOP Trust") and effective as of January 1, 1985 an employee stock
ownership  trust for  salaried  employees  which was known as The Stanley  Works
Savings and Retirement Trust (the "Prior Salaried ESOP Trust");

      WHEREAS,  the Prior  Hourly ESOP Trust was formed to fund the Savings Plan
for Hourly  Paid  Employees  of The Stanley  Works (the  "Hourly  Plan"),  which
contained both a profit sharing feature and employee stock ownership feature;

      WHEREAS,  the Prior Salaried ESOP Trust was formed to fund the Savings and
Retirement  Plan for  Salaried  Employees  of The Stanley  Works (the  "Salaried
Plan"),  which  contained  both a profit  sharing  feature  and  employee  stock
ownership feature;

      WHEREAS,  effective  June 7, 1991,  the Prior  Hourly ESOP Trust  borrowed
$26,499,973.50  (the "1991 Hourly ESOP Loan") from a  subsidiary  of the Company
pursuant to a term note dated June 7, 1991 (the "1991  Hourly Term  Note"),  the
proceeds of which were used to purchase  common  stock of the Company  ("Company
Stock");

      WHEREAS,  effective  June 7, 1991,  the Prior Salaried ESOP Trust borrowed
$153,499,995.00 (the "1991 Salaried ESOP Loan") from a subsidiary of the Company
pursuant to a term note dated June 7, 1991 (the "1991 Salaried Term Note"),  the
proceeds of which were used to purchase Company Stock;

      WHEREAS,  effective  September  30, 1994,  the Prior Hourly ESOP Trust was
merged into the Prior Salaried ESOP Trust, which was amended and restated as The
Stanley Works 401(k) Savings Plan Trust (the "Former Trust") and the Hourly Plan
was merged into the Salaried Plan, which was amended and restated as The Stanley
Works 401(k) Savings Plan, now amended and restated as the Stanley Account Value
Plan (the "Plan");

                                      -1-




      WHEREAS,  effective  September  30,  1994,  the 1991  Hourly ESOP Loan and
related promissory note, was assumed by the Former Trust;

      WHEREAS,  the  1991  Salaried  ESOP  Loan and the 1991  Hourly  ESOP  Loan
(together,  the "Current 1991 ESOP Loans")  provide for the Trust to make annual
principal and interest payments as of each January 31 through January 31, 2026;

      WHEREAS,  the Current 1991 ESOP Loans were based on certain assumptions of
growth in the employee work force;

      WHEREAS, due to intervening economic factors and corporate restructuring, 
these assumptions have proved to be inaccurate;

      WHEREAS,  because  these  assumptions  have proved to be  inaccurate,  the
Company and the Trustee have decided to refinance and extend the maturity of the
Current 1991 ESOP Loans and the related promissory notes;

      WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have exchanged various proposals, and
negotiated  the terms and  conditions  of a  refinancing  of the maturity of the
Current 1991 ESOP Loans and the related promissory notes;

      WHEREAS,  the Company has engaged the Trustee  under an  agreement to make
the determination in its sole and independent discretion as to whether the terms
of the proposed  refinancing  and extension is in accordance  with its fiduciary
duties under the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974,  as amended
("ERISA");

      WHEREAS,  the  Trustee  has  made the  determination  to enter  into  this
Agreement and other  documents  related to the  refinancing  of the Current 1991
ESOP  Loans and the  related  promissory  notes,  including  the  Implementation
Agreement  dated as of the date  hereof  between  the Company and the Trust (the
"Implementation  Agreement"),  the Amended and Restated  1991 Salaried ESOP Note
dated as of the date hereof (the  "Replacement 1991 Salaried ESOP Note") and the
Amended  and  Restated  1991  Hourly  ESOP Note dated as of the date hereof (the
"Replacement 1991 Hourly ESOP Note");

      WHEREAS,  it is  intended  that the loan made  under  this  Agreement  and
evidenced by the Replacement  1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the  Replacement  1991
Hourly ESOP Note  (collectively,  the "Replacement  ESOP Loan") be primarily for
the benefit of the Plan  participants and  beneficiaries  and will constitute an
"exempt loan" within the meaning of section  4975(d)(3) of the Internal  Revenue
Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"),  Treasury  Regulation  ss.54.4975-7(b),
Section 408(b)(3) of ERISA and Department of Labor Regulation ss.2550.408b-3;

      WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to enter into the Implementation Agreement
in

                                      -2-





consideration  for the Trustee  entering  into this  Agreement and executing the
Replacement  1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the Replacement  1991 Hourly ESOP Note;
and

      WHEREAS,  Company  and the Trust  desire to amend and  restate the Current
1991 ESOP Loans in their entirety as this  Agreement to reflect the  refinancing
of the Current 1991 ESOP Loans.

      NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration   of  the  premises  and   the  mutual
covenants  and  agreements   herein   contained  and  other  good  and  valuable
consideration (the receipt,  adequacy and sufficiency of which each party hereto
respectively acknowledges by its execution hereof), the parties hereto intending
legally to be bound do hereby agree to the implementation of their understanding
as follows:

          Section 1.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE LOAN

      1.1 The Loan.  The  Trust  hereby consents and agrees to the  continuation
of its  indebtedness  to the Company  described in the foregoing  recitals,  and
acknowledges  and agrees that as of the date hereof the Trust is indebted to the
Company in the principal amount of $180,122,846.12  (together, the "Loan").  The
outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Loan shall,  beginning on June 30,
1998,  bear  interest at the rate of 6.09%  per annum  from (and including)  the
date hereof to (but  excluding) the date of repayment  thereof.  Interest on the
Loan  shall be  computed  on the basis of a 365-day  year and the number of days
elapsed. The Loan shall be due and payable on December 31, 2028. The Trust shall
make principal payments on the Loan as set forth on Annex I hereto.  Interest on
the  outstanding  principal  balance of the Loan shall be payable (i) monthly in
arrears on the last  business day of each  calendar  month  commencing  July 31,
1998;  and (ii) at  maturity.  All or any portion of the  outstanding  principal
balance of, or interest on, the Loan may be prepaid at any time without penalty.
Prepayments will be applied to reduce the amount of future  scheduled  payments,
and the Company shall  determine  which future  scheduled  payments to which the
prepayments are applied.

      1.2 The Note.  The  obligation  of  the Trust  to  repay the Loan shall be
evidenced by promissory  notes in the form of the Replacement 1991 Salaried ESOP
Note,  attached as Exhibit A and the Replacement 1991 Hourly ESOP Note, attached
as Exhibit B, together (the "Notes").  The Company shall use its best efforts to
record the date and the amounts of any payments and prepayments of the principal
amount on Annex A to the Replacement 1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the Replacement
1991 Hourly ESOP Note.  The insertions on said Annex A to the  Replacement  1991
Salaried  ESOP  Note  and  the  Replacement  1991  Hourly  ESOP  Note  shall  be
presumptive evidence of the outstanding principal amount of the Loan. Failure to
make such  insertions  shall not  affect  the  Company's  rights or the  Trust's
obligations  hereunder and under the Replacement 1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the
Replacement 1991 Hourly ESOP Note.

                                      -3-





      1.3 Payments  Free  of  Taxes.   All   payments   made   by the  Trust  in
connection  with this  Agreement  shall be made free and clear of,  and  without
reduction by reason of, any taxes.

      1.4 Immediately Available Dollars.   All  payments  hereunder  shall be in
U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds.

          Section 2.  CONDITIONS OF LOAN CONTINUATION

      2.1 Company  Conditions.  The  obligation  of  the Company to continue the
Loan as set forth  hereunder  shall be  subject to the  conditions  that (i) the
Company shall have received, in form and substance  satisfactory to the Company,
the  Replacement  1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the  Replacement  1991 Hourly ESOP
Note (collectively with this Agreement,  the "Loan Document"),  duly executed by
the Trustee on behalf of the Trust,  and such other documents as the Company may
reasonably request in order to effect fully the purposes of this Agreement,  and
(ii) no Event of Default set forth in Section 4 herein  shall have  occurred and
be continuing.

      2.2 Trust Conditions.  The  agreement  of the Trust to the continuation of
its  indebtedness  to the Company as provided  hereunder shall be subject to the
condition  that the Trust shall have  received  from the Company the original of
the Current  1991 ESOP Notes duly marked by the Company,  in form and  substance
satisfactory  to the  Trustee,  to  evidence  its  cancellation,  or such  other
evidence of cancellation of Notes that the Trustee deems satisfactory.

          Section 3. TRUST'S AFFIRMATIVE COVENANT

      The Trustee  covenants  and agrees that,  until  payment in  full  of  the
Note,  the Trust  shall  comply at all times  with the  provisions  of  Treasury
Regulations  Section  54.4975-7  with respect to "exempt  loans" to an "employee
stock ownership plan."

          Section 4.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT

      4.1 Failure to Make  Required  Payments.   Failure  of  the Trustee to pay
any  installment  of principal or interest on the Notes on or prior to the third
business day after such payment was due shall constitute an event of default.

      4.2 Breach of Covenant.  Failure of the  Trustee  to  perform any material
term or condition under this Loan shall constitute an event of default.

          Section 5.  MISCELLANEOUS

      5.1 Special ERISA Provisions.

                                      -4-





          (a) Other  than  as  specifically  set forth  in this Section 5.1,  no
person  or  entity  shall  have  any  recourse   against the Plan or Trust  with
respect to any obligation of the Trust hereunder.  No person or entity  entitled
to payment hereunder shall have any recourse, for any payments due on the Notes,
against any Plan assets other than the following categories of assets:

          (i)   contributions   (other  than  securities  of  the  Company  (the
"Securities"))  made to the Trust from time to time pursuant to the Plan to meet
the obligations of the Trust,

          (ii)  dividends  paid  on the  shares  purchased by the  Plan from the
proceeds  of a loan which was repaid with the  proceeds  of the Notes,  provided
that such dividends  and  earnings thereon shall not constitute more than 98.42%
of any payment of principal, interest or principal and interest  under the Notes
except to the extent  permitted under Code Section 404(k),  and provided further
that  dividends  paid on  allocated  shares  may be used for the  payment of the
obligations to the extent permitted under section 404(k) of the Code,

          (iii) earnings attributable to the investment of the contributions and
dividends referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii),

          (iv)  proceeds of a loan entered into to repay the loan  evidenced  by
the Notes, and

          (v)   to  the  extent  permitted  by  law,   proceeds  from  the  sale
of collateral with respect to the Notes.

The  foregoing  limitations  shall not affect the  Company's  rights,  which are
unconditional and absolute,  to declare the indebtedness  evidenced by the Notes
to be immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of any default;  provided,
however,   that  the  extent  of  the  Company's  ability  to  declare  such  an
acceleration  and to transfer assets of the Trust in satisfaction of any default
shall be  subject  to the  applicable  limits  of  Treasury  Regulation  section
54.4975-7(b)(6).  Notwithstanding  any provision to the  contrary,  the proceeds
from the sale of  shares  attributable  to the  Notes  cannot be used to pay the
obligations  hereunder  unless (1) the Trustee  receives a legal  opinion,  from
legal  counsel  satisfactory  to it,  that such  payment  does not  violate  any
provision of the Code or ERISA, and (2) the Company commits to the contributions
of amounts to the Trust which have a fair market value equal to or exceeding the
value of amounts which would have been allocated to  participants'  accounts had
the 1991 Salaried Term Note and the 1991 Hourly Term Note not been refinanced.

          (b) The Trustee may rely on the determination  and  directions  of the
Plan  Administrator  (as  defined in and  appointed  pursuant  to the Plan) with
respect  to any  payments  that are due  from  time to time  hereunder,  and the
Trustee shall have no liability attributable to its reliance thereon.

                                      -5-





      5.2 Modification.  This  Agreement may not be amended,  waived or modified
in any manner without the written consent of the Company and the Trustee.

      5.3 Notices.  Except  as  otherwise expressly provided,  any notice herein
required or  permitted  to be given  shall be in writing  and may be  personally
served or sent by United  States  mail,  and shall be deemed to have been  given
when  personally  served or five days after being deposited in the United States
mail, registered,  with postage prepaid and properly addressed. For the purposes
hereof, the addresses of the parties hereto (until notice of a change thereof is
served as provided in this Section 5.3) shall be as follows:

If to the Trustee:

      Citibank, N.A.
      111 Wall Street
      15th Floor, Zone 9
      New York, New York 1005
      Attention: Katarina Antens-Miller

If to the Company:

      The Stanley Works
      76 Batterson Road
      Farmington, CT  06032
      Attention:  Mr. Craig Douglas

      4.4 Severability.   In  case  any   provision  hereof  shall  be  invalid,
illegal or  unenforceable,  such provision shall be severable from the remainder
of this Agreement and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

      4.5 Applicable  Law.  Except  to  the  extent  superseded  by  laws of the
United States,  this Agreement  shall be governed by and  interpreted  under the
internal laws of the State of New York.

      4.6 Assignability.  This  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon  the  parties
hereto and their  respective  successors  and  assigns,  and shall  inure to the
benefit of the parties  hereto and the  successors  and assigns of the  Company.
Without  the prior  written  consent  of the  Company,  which may be  granted or
withheld in the Company's sole discretion, the Trustee may not assign any of its
rights or delegate any of its obligations hereunder.

      4.7 Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may  be  executed in two counterparts,
each of which  shall be  deemed an  original  but both of which  together  shall
constitute one and the 

                                      -6-




same instrument.

      4.8 Section Headings.  The  various  headings  used  in this Agreement are
are inserted for convenience only and shall  not affect the meaning or interpre-
tation of this Agreement or any provision hereof

      4.9 Further  Assurances.   At  any   time  or from  time to time  upon the
request of the  Company,  the Trustee  shall  execute and deliver  such  further
documents  and do such  other  acts and  things as the  Company  may  reasonably
request in order to effect fully the purposes of this  Agreement  and to provide
for the payment of all borrowings  hereunder and interest  thereon in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.

                                      -7-





      Witness the due execution hereof as of the date first above written.

                                              CITIBANK,  N.A.,   solely  in  its
                                              capacity as Trustee of  the  trust
                                              agreement   under    the   Stanley
                                              Account Value Plan

                                              By: Keith May
                                                     Its: Vice-President




                                              THE STANLEY WORKS, in its capacity
                                              as lender hereunder

                                              By:  Craig A. Douglas
                                                     Its:  Treasurer

                                      -8-




 
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 1991 HOURLY ESOP NOTE


                                                                   June 30, 1998
                                                              New York, New York

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned promises to pay to the order of The
Stanley Corporation ("the Company") the principal amount of  $26,518,403.53 (the
"Principal Amount Outstanding")  with respect to  the borrowings originally made
under a promissory note dated as of June 7, 1991, and again amended and restated
as of the date  hereof, pursuant to a loan  agreement  dated the date hereof be-
tween the  undersigned,  as Borrower,  and the Company, as lender (the "New 1991
Loan  Agreement"), payable as hereinafter set forth and the New 1991 Loan Agree-
ment. The undersigned promises to pay interest on the Principal Amount Outstand-
ing from time to time  from  the  date hereof until the date of payment in full,
payable as hereinafter set forth.

         Terms defined in the New 1991 Loan Agreement and not otherwise  defined
herein are used herein with the meanings defined for those terms in the New 1991
Loan Agreement. This is the Replacement 1991 Hourly ESOP Note referred to in the
New 1991 Loan Agreement, and any holder hereof is entitled to all of the rights,
remedies,  benefits and privileges  provided for in the New 1991 Loan Agreement.
The New 1991  Loan  Agreement,  among  other  things,  contains  provisions  for
acceleration  of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events
upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

         The  Principal  Amount  Outstanding  evidenced  by this  Note  shall be
payable as provided in the New 1991 Loan Agreement.

         Interest shall be payable on the Principal Amount  Outstanding from the
date hereof  until  payment in full and shall  accrue and be payable at the rate
and on the dates set forth in the New 1991 Loan  Agreement both before and after
default and before and after maturity and judgment.  Accrued  interest as of the
date hereof  shall be payable in the amount and on the date set forth in the New
1991 Loan Agreement.

         Anything  contained in this Note to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the
sole and only  recourse of the Company  for the  payment of the  obligations  of
undersigned hereunder shall be derived solely from (a) contributions (other than
securities of the Company (the  "Securities")) made to the undersigned from time
to time  pursuant to the  Stanley  Account  Value Plan (the  "Plan") to meet the
obligations of undersigned hereunder, (b) dividends paid on the shares purchased
by the Plan from the  proceeds of a loan which was repaid  with the  proceeds of
this  Note,  provided  that such  dividends  and earnings thereon shall not con-
stitute more than 98.42% of any payment of principal, interest or  principal and
interest under this Note except to the extent  permitted under section 404(k) of
the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the 

                                      -1-





"Code") and provided further that dividends paid on allocated shares may be used
for the payment of the  obligations to the extent  permitted  under Code section
404(k),  (c) earnings  attributable to the investment of the  contributions  and
dividends  referred to in the  preceding  clauses (a) and (b), (d) proceeds of a
loan  entered  into to repay the loan  evidenced  by this  Note,  and (e) to the
extent permitted by law,  proceeds from the sale of shares  attributable to this
Note. The foregoing limitations shall not affect the Company's rights, which are
unconditional and absolute,  to declare the indebtedness  evidenced by this Note
to be immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of any default;  provided,
however,   that  the  extent  of  the  Company's  ability  to  declare  such  an
acceleration  and to transfer  assets of the  undersigned in satisfaction of any
default shall be subject to the applicable limits of Treasury Regulation section
54.4975-7(b)(6).  Notwithstanding  any provision to the  contrary,  the proceeds
from the sale of  shares  attributable  to this  Note  cannot be used to pay the
obligations  hereunder  unless (1) the Trustee  receives a legal  opinion,  from
legal  counsel  satisfactory  to it,  that such  payment  does not  violate  any
provision of the Code or ERISA, and (2) the Company commits to the contributions
of amounts to the Trust which have a fair market value equal to or exceeding the
value of amounts which would have been allocated to  participants'  accounts had
the 1991 Hourly ESOP Note not been refinanced.

         In all  respects,  this Note  shall be subject  to and  construed  in a
manner consistent with the applicable  requirements for an "exempt loan" (within
the meaning of section  4975(d)(3) of the Code and Treasury  Regulation  section
54.4975-7(b)(1)(iii)).

         The amount of each  payment  hereunder  shall be made to the Company at
the Company's  offices  located at 76 Batterson  Road,  Farmington,  Connecticut
(Attn:  Vice  President,  Corporate  Finance)  or at such  other  address as the
Company may specify from time to time,  in lawful money of the United  States of
America and in immediately  available  funds not later than 11:00 a.m.,  Eastern
time, on the day of payment.  All payments  received  after 11:00 a.m.,  Eastern
time, shall be deemed received on the next succeeding  business day. The Company
shall  use its best  efforts  to keep a record of  payments  of  principal  with
respect to this Note on Annex A hereto,  and such  record  shall be  presumptive
evidence of the Principal Amount  Outstanding  under this Note.  Failure to make
such record shall not affect the  Company's  rights  hereunder and under the New
1991 Loan Agreement.

         The  undersigned  hereby  waives   presentment,   demand  for  payment,
dishonor, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of protest and any other notice or
formality, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws.

                                      -2-





         This Note shall be  delivered  to and  accepted  by the  Company in the
State of New York, and shall be governed by and  interpreted  under the internal
laws thereof.

                                                CITIBANK,  N.A.,  solely  in its
                                                capacity as Trustee of the trust
                                                agreement   under  the   Stanley
                                                Account Value Plan



                                                By: Katarina Antens-Miller
                                                       Its:  Vice President

                                      -3-





                                     ANNEX A
                         LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Amount            Amount of               Principal
              of           Principal Paid              Amount          Notation
Date         Loan            or Prepaid              Outstanding        Made By
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      -4-





                  AMENDED AND RESTATED 1991 SALARIED ESOP NOTE


                                                                   June 30, 1998
                                                              New York, New York

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned promises to pay to the order of The
Stanley Corporation ("the Company") the principal amount of $153,604,442.59 (the
"Principal Amount Outstanding")  with  respect to the borrowings originally made
under a  promissory  note  dated as  of  June 7, 1991,  and  again  amended  and
restated  as of the date  hereof,  pursuant to a loan  agreement  dated the date
hereof between the  undersigned,  as Borrower,  and the Company,  as lender (the
"New 1991 Loan  Agreement"),  payable as hereinafter  set forth and the New 1991
Loan Agreement. The undersigned promises to pay interest on the Principal Amount
Outstanding  from time to time from the date hereof until the date of payment in
full, payable as hereinafter set forth.

         Terms defined in the New 1991 Loan Agreement and not otherwise  defined
herein are used herein with the meanings defined for those terms in the New 1991
Loan Agreement.  This is the Replacement  1991 Salaried ESOP Note referred to in
the New 1991 Loan  Agreement,  and any holder  hereof is  entitled to all of the
rights,  remedies,  benefits  and  privileges  provided for in the New 1991 Loan
Agreement. The New 1991 Loan Agreement,  among other things, contains provisions
for  acceleration  of the maturity  hereof upon the happening of certain  stated
events upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

         The  Principal  Amount  Outstanding  evidenced  by this  Note  shall be
payable as provided in the New 1991 Loan Agreement.

         Interest shall be payable on the Principal Amount  Outstanding from the
date hereof  until  payment in full and shall  accrue and be payable at the rate
and on the dates set forth in the New 1991 Loan  Agreement both before and after
default and before and after maturity and judgment.  Accrued  interest as of the
date hereof  shall be payable in the amount and on the date set forth in the New
1991 Loan Agreement.

         Anything  contained in this Note to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the
sole and only  recourse of the Company  for the  payment of the  obligations  of
undersigned hereunder shall be derived solely from (a) contributions (other than
securities of the Company (the  "Securities")) made to the undersigned from time
to time  pursuant to the  Stanley  Account  Value Plan (the  "Plan") to meet the
obligations of undersigned hereunder, (b) dividends paid on the shares purchased
by the Plan from the  proceeds of a loan which was repaid  with the  proceeds of
this  Note,  provided  that  such  dividends  and  earnings  thereon  shall  not
constitute  more  than 98.42% of any payment of principal, interest or principal
and interest under this Note except to the extent permitted under section 404(k)
of  the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the

                                      -1-





"Code") and  provided further  that  dividends  paid on allocated  shares may be
used for the  payment  of the  obligations  to the extent  permitted  under Code
section 404(k), (c) earnings attributable to the investment of the contributions
and dividends  referred to in the preceding clauses (a) and (b), (d) proceeds of
a loan  entered into to repay the loan  evidenced  by this Note,  and (e) to the
extent permitted by law,  proceeds from the sale of shares  attributable to this
Note. The foregoing limitations shall not affect the Company's rights, which are
unconditional and absolute,  to declare the indebtedness  evidenced by this Note
to be immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of any default;  provided,
however,   that  the  extent  of  the  Company's  ability  to  declare  such  an
acceleration  and to transfer  assets of the  undersigned in satisfaction of any
default shall be subject to the applicable limits of Treasury Regulation section
54.4975-7(b)(6).  Notwithstanding  any provision to the  contrary,  the proceeds
from the sale of  shares  attributable  to this  Note  cannot be used to pay the
obligations  hereunder  unless (1) the Trustee  receives a legal  opinion,  from
legal  counsel  satisfactory  to it,  that such  payment  does not  violate  any
provision of the Code or ERISA, and (2) the Company commits to the contributions
of amounts to the Trust which have a fair market value equal to or exceeding the
value of amounts which would have been allocated to  participants'  accounts had
the 1991 Salaried ESOP Note not been refinanced.

         In all  respects,  this Note  shall be subject  to and  construed  in a
manner consistent with the applicable  requirements for an "exempt loan" (within
the meaning of section  4975(d)(3) of the Code and Treasury  Regulation  section
54.4975-7(b)(1)(iii)).

         The amount of each  payment  hereunder  shall be made to the Company at
the Company's  offices  located at 76 Batterson  Road,  Farmington,  Connecticut
(Attn:  Vice  President,  Corporate  Finance)  or at such  other  address as the
Company may specify from time to time,  in lawful money of the United  States of
America and in immediately  available  funds not later than 11:00 a.m.,  Eastern
time, on the day of payment.  All payments  received  after 11:00 a.m.,  Eastern
time, shall be deemed received on the next succeeding  business day. The Company
shall  use its best  efforts  to keep a record of  payments  of  principal  with
respect to this Note on Annex A hereto,  and such  record  shall be  presumptive
evidence of the Principal Amount  Outstanding  under this Note.  Failure to make
such record shall not affect the  Company's  rights  hereunder and under the New
1991 Loan Agreement.

         The  undersigned  hereby  waives   presentment,   demand  for  payment,
dishonor, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of protest and any other notice or
formality, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws.

                                      -2-





         This Note shall be  delivered  to and  accepted  by the  Company in the
State of New York, and shall be governed by and  interpreted  under the internal
laws thereof.

                                                CITIBANK,  N.A.,  solely  in its
                                                capacity as Trustee of the trust
                                                agreement   under  the   Stanley
                                                Account Value Plan



                                                By: Katarina Antens-Miller
                                                       Its:  Vice President

                                      -3-





                                     ANNEX A
                         LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Amount            Amount of               Principal
              of           Principal Paid              Amount          Notation
Date         Loan            or Prepaid              Outstanding        Made By
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      -4-





                            A Partnership Including       Boston
                           Professional Corporations     Chicago
                           227 West Monroe Street        Los Angeles
                           Chicago, IL  60606-5096       Miami
                           312-372-2000                  Newport Beach
                           Facsimile 312-984-3651        New York
                                                         St. Petersburg (Russia)
                                                         Vilnius (Lithuania)
                                                         Washington, D.C.
     
                           Frederick W. Axley, P.C
                           Attorney at Law
                           faxley@mwe.com                    
McDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY    312-984-7574



                                                          June 30, 1998

The Stanley Works
76 Batterson Road
Farmington, Connecticut  06032

                  Re:      New 1991 Loan Agreement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We  are  special  counsel  to  Citibank,   N.A.,  a  national   banking
association  (the "Bank").  The Bank is the trustee (the "ESOP Trustee") of that
certain Stanley Account Value Plan Trust (the "ESOP Trust") dated as of June 29,
1998  between  the Bank and The Stanley  Works (the  "Company"),  a  Connecticut
corporation,  which forms a part of the Stanley Account Value Plan (the "ESOP").
The Bank,  not in its  individual  capacity but solely as the ESOP Trustee under
the ESOP Trust,  and the Company have entered into an  Implementation  Agreement
and New 1991 Loan Agreement,  each dated as of June 30, 1998 (collectively,  the
"Agreements"),  pursuant  to which  the  Company  will  loan  the ESOP  Trust an
aggregate principal amount of $180,122,846.12, which to refinance existing loans
between  the ESOP Trust and the  Company  (the  "Refinancing  Transaction").  In
exchange  the ESOP  Trustee  will issue to the Company the Amended and  Restated
1991  Salaried ESOP Note, in the  principal  amount of  $153,604,442.59  and the
Amended  and  Restated  1991  Hourly  ESOP  Note,  in the  principal  amount  of
$26,518,403.53 (collectively, the "Notes") This opinion is being rendered to you
pursuant to an agreement of the parties.  Capitalized terms used herein that are
not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Agreements.

         In connection with the Refinancing Transaction, we have examined copies
of the Articles of  Association  and By-Laws of the Bank certified to us on June
17, 1998 as in effect,  a certificate from the Bank dated June 26, 1998 relating
to its power to execute the ESOP  Trust,  a  certificate  from the Office of the
Comptroller  of the  Currency  dated  May 27,  1998  establishing  the Bank as a
validly  existing  national banking  association,  notice from the Office of the
Comptroller  of the  Currency  dated June 23, 1998 that the Bank  possesses  the
required permit to act as a fiduciary, the ESOP Trust, the Agreements, the Notes
and  such  other  certificates  and  documents  as we have  deemed  relevant  or
necessary as a basis for the opinions set forth below.  In such  connection,  we
have  assumed  the  genuineness  of  all  signatures,  the  





Page 2


authenticity  of all documents  submitted to me as originals,  the conformity to
original documents of all documents  submitted to me as photostatic or certified
copies,  the  authenticity of the originals of such copies,  and the conformity,
other than as to the dollar amounts,  of all executed Agreements to the examined
copies of the  Agreements.  We have relied,  to the extent we deem such reliance
proper,  upon  representations  made in the  Agreements,  the  ESOP  Trust,  and
certificates   or   representations   made  in   writing   by  duly   authorized
representatives  of the ESOP  trustee  and the  Company,  copies  of  which,  we
understand, have been delivered to you.

         Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         1. The Bank is a  national  banking  association,  duly  organized  and
validly  existing  under the laws of the United States of America.  The Bank has
full corporate  power and legal  authority to execute and deliver the ESOP Trust
and to undertake its duties thereunder. The ESOP Trustee has all requisite trust
power and authority  under the ESOP Trust to execute,  deliver and undertake its
obligations under the Agreements and the Notes.

         2. The ESOP Trust has been duly  executed and  delivered by the Bank in
its individual capacity,  and the Agreements have been duly executed by the ESOP
Trustee in its trustee capacity.

         3. The ESOP Trust constitutes the legal,  valid and binding  obligation
of the Bank  solely as an  exercise  of its  trust  powers,  and is  enforceable
against  the  Bank  as  trustee  in  accordance   with  its  terms,   except  as
enforceability  thereof  may be limited  by (a) the  availability  of  equitable
remedies,  including,  without limitation,  specific  enforcement and injunctive
relief,  which  remedies  may be subject to the  discretion  of the court before
which any proceedings  therefor may be brought,  and (b) applicable  bankruptcy,
administration,  reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
moratorium  or similar laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights
generally as at the time in effect.

         4. The ESOP  Trust is a trust duly  constituted  and  validly  existing
under the laws of the State of New York.  The ESOP Trust acting through the ESOP
Trustee has the requisite  trust power and authority to own its  properties  and
assets. The ESOP Trustee has all requisite trust power and authority to execute,
deliver  and  perform  all of  the  obligations  of the  ESOP  Trust  under  the
Agreements and the Notes and to bind the ESOP Trust in connection therewith.

         5. Each of the Agreements  and the Notes is a legal,  valid and binding
obligation  of the ESOP  Trust  and is  enforceable  against  the ESOP  Trust in
accordance with its terms,  except as the enforceability  thereof may be limited
by (a) the availability of equitable  remedies,  including,  without limitation,
specific enforcement and injunctive relief, which remedies may be subject to the
discretion  of the court before which any  proceedings  therefor may be brought,
and (b)  applicable  bankruptcy,  administration,  reorganization,  arrangement,
insolvency,  fraudulent  conveyance,  moratorium  or similar laws  affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally as at the time in effect.





Page 3


         No opinion is expressed  herein with respect to matters  arising  under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

         We express no opinion as to the law of any jurisdiction  other than the
law of the  State  of New York  and the  federal  law of the  United  States  of
America.

         This  opinion is rendered  solely to and for the benefit of The Stanley
Works in connection with the refinancing transaction, and may not be relied upon
by any other person or for any other  purposes.  This opinion is given as of the
date hereof, and subsequent legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or
other developments may occur after the date hereof,  which may cause our opinion
to change.


                                                     McDermott, Will & Emery
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     McDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY