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Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland

News:
The Barrister's Book Chamber has moved here from Retford
New listing Peak Volumes Tideswell
New listing Peak Dragon Books Matlock
The Barrister's Book Chamber has closed
New bookshop Eagle Books in Derby
New Oxfam bookshop in Derby
new shop Book Folk Buxton
New listing Footsteps Whaley Bridge
New shop Books At The Basin Community Bookshop Whaley Bridge
New shop Brockwell Books Chesterfield
New listing Eyam Book Barn
New listing MDS Book Sales Glossop
Tilleys Vintage Magazines Chesterfield has closed

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We do our best to make sure these details are correct and up-to-date. However we recommend that you contact bookshops before making a special journey.

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Book End/BAKEWELL/Bridge Street
Book End    Phone before travelling
Bridge Street    BAKEWELL  DE45 1DS
map
tel:  01629 814994  e-mail
Open:  Monday - Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday 11.00 - 4.00, Wednesday 11.00 - 1.30
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We are a small second-hand bookshop run for the benefit of Bakewell and Eyam Community Transport. All books are donated. Wide cross section of fiction and non fiction. As well as second-hand books of all genres, there is a stock of new goods including: cards, gift wrap, There are also greetings cards. This second hand book shop is run primarily by volunteers who are friendly and helpful.

Well worth a visit. Good for those little treats like old NEL and 4-Square paperbacks, true crime, 1960s Pan. Saw nothing priced above £2.  Andrew Bradley 26.10.15
Nice friendly little shop near Bakewell's historic bridge over the River Wye. Spot the many "Original Bakewell Pudding Shops" en route! Most books are priced at £2, though I paid a fiver for a Folio Society edition of Priestley's English Journey. Busy and popular, clearly part of the community, the shop has a good selection of both fiction and non-fiction.  TravellingLibrary 13.03.17
A well laid out shop with books in very good condition at very reasonable prices. A joy for a reader but little for collectors.  Loyola 13.04.17
Not open at 4-30 on Friday 7th June 2019. What I could see through the windows looked promising but if they won't let me in then I ain't buying.  Steven 13.06.19
Visited here on Saturday afternoon. Mostly paperback fiction but other categories catered for.

Condition and prices were good and staff were friendly and helpful. Well worth a look if you are in Bakewell and can stand the tourist hordes.
  David 05.06.22
The shop has moved across the road and into smaller premises. The quality did not seem to be as high as on our previous visit here and condition was variable. Possibly best for tourists just wanting holiday paperback reading.  David 11.08.24

Book Folk/BUXTON/2 Scarsdale Place
Book Folk  Open at advertised times
2 Scarsdale Place  BUXTON  SK17 6EF
map
tel:  07881 933253  e-mail  
Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 6.00, Saturday 9.00 - 5.00, Sunday 10.00 - 4.00
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Recent addition to Buxton, a hop and a skip away from Scriveners. A small shop consisting of two rooms that covers most areas, including a decent amount of modern fiction.

Didn't expect too much but digging through unearthed plenty of goodies leading to a pile of of books bought. Definitely worth stopping by if visiting the larger bookshop up the road.
  Stive 25.02.24

Book Shop/WIRKSWORTH/Market Place
The Book Shop    Open at advertised times
Market Place    WIRKSWORTH  DE4 4ET
map
tel:  01629 825120  e-mail
Open: Tuesday, Thursday - Saturday 11.00 - 4.00
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A small shop, with a high-quality stock of second-hand books at competitive prices. History a speciality. Large selection of fiction. Also some antiquarian stock.

(RF Barrett late of Matlock) Smaller premises, but still well worth a call.  Mike Jobbing 24.06.08
Just visited The Book Shop - tucked away in the corner of the marketplace, on the opposite corner to the library. Good stock at reasonable prices.  John Hale 05.05.09
Discerning selection, particularly of 20th century literature and very moderately priced.  Lost Club 16.11.09
Very reasonable prices. Proprietor very helpful and knowledgeable.  Leo 20.07.11
Left feeling rather impressed - not a huge number of books on display but it was a case of quality, not quantity here. Excellent prices and a pleasant atmosphere to browse in.  Graeme Rendall 22.10.12
Well WAD, this shop ticked plenty of boxes for me. The relatively small selection - I guess 4-5k is compensated for by high interest value. So much so I had to return a few days later. I will be back.  Stevesan 17.05.14
Wirksworth is not on a main route and so getting there requires some effort. Having made that effort potential customers do not expect to be received with arrogance and rudeness. This is first time in over forty years of book buying that I have walked out of a shop because of the appalling attitude of the proprietor - safe to say I shall not be making a return visit.  Nicholas Pendower 03.07.14
Quiet and efficient, and probably the best, most experienced book-seller in Derbyshire now that Alan Hill and Laura Crooks are no longer with us. Quality not quantity; fairly priced - and clean.  Andrew Bradley 12.07.14
I always look forward to my visits. Richard is probably the most expert antiquarian dealer in the county and his stock is diverse, even if I have no idea how he can make it succeed in such a tiny shop.  Charles Murray 26.07.14
An exceptional book shop. I can endorse all of the comments already made. I seldom visit but whenever I manage it I always find something. On this occasion it was a book that I have been searching for for months. The owner apologised for its poor condition and although it was better than most of the others I have seen in the past, this was by far the cheapest copy.  CB 18.08.14
A really nice shop to visit. Fairly small but with no tat on the shelves. A very good all round selection of titles with local history books being very strong.  Chris Harte 23.03.15
We were in the Peak district for just 2 days and made a special trip to Wirksworth only to find the shop closed despite it being 3.30. Not very impressed.  David 10.06.16
Small premises but choice stock competitively priced. pleasing window display and plenty of decent books being 'moved through' at £1. shrewd proprietor still doing it for the love of books, so opening hours a bit flexible - worth phoning ahead and respecting the stock by giving it more than half an hour to browse! Only a couple of miles from Cromford's great Scarthin Books, well worth a joint visit if you've got all day.  glenk 10.07.18
I was rather impressed by this little shop in the heart of a very pleasant town. Stock seemed well chosen and fairly priced. I would have spent more if time had been on my side.  Wessexman 30.08.22
Had a pre-Christmas visit and whilst my primary aim was for Penguin Books, I was not disappointed by the range of titles, both in terms of age and genre. Many nooks and crannies to explore across several floors and prices reasonable. If you leave empty handed, you're not trying hard enough.  The Penguin Chap 04.01.23
Another little gem, a lesson to some more well known bookshops in the county. Not a huge stock but clean and reasonably priced stock in a pretty village. WWAD  Bazza  10.05.23
A small shop but I still found five books that I very happy with at giveaway prices. The lowest step to the shop from the pavement is ambitiously high, so walk along to its right side if you are unsteady on your feet.   Stive 25.02.24
Easily the best bookshop visited on this trip. Books in good condition and with prices that were almost giveaway. We bought a large bagful. If you only have time to visit one bookshop whilst in Derbyshire it has to be this one. WWAD.  David 13.08.24
Agree with almost all previous reviewers: this is an excellent shop and WAD. Although small, there is some real quality here, at very competitive prices. Some antiquarian stock. A very good selection of classic and literary fiction. Also plenty of crime fiction, with 'Golden Age' titles well represented. The poetry stock is good, the drama a bit less so. Very strong indeed for history, including military history, as well as topography and local interest. Also a fair amount of good quality in art, crafts, the classical world, archaeology, natural history, transport and travel/walking. Quite a few Folio Society volumes, very reasonably priced. Not good for children's books; there are a few vintage titles, but when the shop is as small as this, decisions have to be made as to what categories to specialise in. The unassuming but ETGOW proprietor, Richard Barrett, is a veteran of the book trade and very knowledgeable. Wirksworth, on the southern fringe of the Peak District, is slightly off the beaten track and is a nice little town, with some interesting buildings - and also some very steep hills.  Booker T 05.09.24

Books At The Basin Community Bookshop/WHALEY BRIDGE/Transhipment Warehouse Whaley Bridge Canal Basin
Books At The Basin Community Bookshop  Open at advertised times
Transhipment Warehouse Whaley Bridge Canal Basin  WHALEY BRIDGE  SK23 7LS
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e-mail   web
Open: Monday, Wednesday - Saturday 10.00-5.00, Sunday 11.00 - 5.00
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Housed in a warehouse on the canal a very short walk from the centre of Whaley Bridge, downstairs are recorded media and some vintage artifacts, upstairs is the general bookshop with all areas covered.

Mostly paperbacks and mostly fiction but other areas are catered for. Condition is not great but this is a community enterprise reliant on donations. They also have a lot of CD's and DVD's downstairs and a coffee shop on-site. There was also a children's workshop the day we were there involving painting and pottery. Whilst not worth a detour it is worth a look if passing.   David 15.08.24

Brockwell Books/CHESTERFIELD/Chesterfield Market, Market Place
Brockwell Books  Open at advertised times
Chesterfield Market, Market Place  CHESTERFIELD  S40 1PB
map
e-mail  
Open: Thursday and most Saturdays 9.00 - 4.00
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Large second-hand bookstall in open-air market, with a diverse stock.

An eclectic selection of books at this stall in Chesterfield's huge open-air market. Far more non-fiction (especially history, politics, topography, travel) than is usually found at such outlets, a higher standard of fiction, and an all-round good-quality stock. The stall opened here in 2017, and after nine months in the indoor market hall is now al fresco once again. The market itself has different specialities on different days of the week: Thursday is "flea market" day; Saturday is a general trading day.  Booker T 31.03.24

Chappells Antique Centre/BAKEWELL/King Street
Chappells Antique Centre  Open at advertised times
King Street   BAKEWELL   DE45 1DZ
map
tel: 01629 812496 
Open:  Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
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A secondhand bookstall dealing mainly in paperbacks.


Countryside Books/CROMFORD/Cromford MillMill Road
Countryside Books     Phone before travelling
Cromford Mill  Mill Road    CROMFORD  DE4 3RQ
map
tel:  07748652077  e-mail   web
Open:  Summer: Monday - Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday 10.00 - 5.00. Other times, reduced hours and closed some days.
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Around 7500 books, all second-hand

Although I visited this excellent little shop on a Thursday, owner Jim Dixon, who has two other shops in the area, said that he is always open weekends but ring beforehand to check on other opening times. It was my wife who found the gem I had been searching for years to find. I then examined the quality holdings in detail and was amazed at what such small premises could hold. This has to be on visiting lists.  Chris Harte 04.09.19
A good cross section of mostly quality stock. Prices are fair and it is worth ensuring that you have enough time to have a good look round. We never leave empty handed.   David 07.06.22
Slightly disappointed something of an obstacle course to see anything. Sell furniture and bric a brac or books.   Bazza  10.05.23
Somewhat disappointed on this visit. I remembered this as having good quality stock but today I thought it all looked rather tired. We had initially called by on the Sunday but despite the board being outside found the shop closed. Whether he had just popped out for a few minutes was difficult to say as there was no information. On returning on the Monday he was open. Unfortunately we made no purchases.  David 13.08.24

Eagle Books/DERBY/Eagle Market, East Street
Eagle Books  Open at advertised times
Eagle Market, East Street   DERBY  DE1 2AZ
map
  web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00
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Occupying a couple of stalls inside the indoor Eagle Market adjoining the Derbion shopping centre. Mostly fairly recent popular and crime fiction in paperback though there are plenty of hardback copies, including first editions. A smattering of biographies and sundry non-fiction titles.


Eyam Book Barn/EYAM/Eyam Hall Courtyard, Church Street
Eyam Book Barn  Open at advertised times
Eyam Hall Courtyard, Church Street  EYAM  S32 5QW
map
e-mail  
Open: Tuesday - Friday approx 11.00 - 4.00, Saturday & Sunday approx 12.00 - 4.00 mid-February - late October (plus some days in November & December)
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A volunteer-run bookshop, which raises funds for several local charities. A wide range of fiction and non-fiction, including children's books and books on the local area, all at reasonable prices.

This bookshop in the "plague village" of Eyam (which has a fascinating history) is situated in the courtyard of Eyam Hall, a 17th-century manor house. However, the bookshop - a former cowshed - is separate from Eyam Hall and so is accessible without paying the hall's entry charge. Opening hours are independent of the hall, and it is very often open when the hall is closed. The bookshop is open six days a week (closed on Mondays) from the start of the February school half-term until the end of the October school half-term each year. It closes for the winter, although it opens on certain days in the run-up to Christmas, especially if events are taking place in the courtyard (anyone contemplating a visit in November or December should check the bookshop's Facebook page in advance). Access for disabled visitors is reasonably straightforward, but the following points should be noted by anyone with mobility difficulties: the courtyard surface is gravel, with some paving; the entrance to the shop is step-free, but there is one shallow step within the shop to access the inner half of it (the former cow stalls); the flooring of the shop consists of cobblestones. Cash and card payments are accepted, although the latter can be a bit iffy, depending on the strength of the WiFi connection, which is quite variable, so it is advisable to bring some cash with you. If the shop is open but no volunteers are present, purchases should be taken to the "Delightful Living" gift shop next door and paid for there. Many thanks to Jan, the very helpful lead volunteer, for this detailed information.

Very nice lady in charge of the shop when we visited. Stock not very exciting but we did make one purchase. Prices are good although condition variable. It is a commendable enterprise so have a look in if in the area but not worth making a special trip. Having said that Eyam is worth a visit for its fascinating history as the plague village.  David 11.08.24

Footsteps/WHALEY BRIDGE/14 Market Street
Footsteps  Open at advertised times
14 Market Street  WHALEY BRIDGE  SK23 7LP
map
tel:  01663732395  e-mail   web
Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 09:00 - 3:00, Wednesday, Saturday 09:00 - 1:00
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Community run drop in centre with a general second hand bookshop in four rooms on three floors. Books are donated or ex-library. Ground floor also houses a small cafe.

We were greeted by a group of lovely ladies knitting and chatting. Another laudable community venture in this town. Plenty of books spread over 2 floors. Mostly paperback fiction but some hardback books and most categories covered. Made a couple of purchases including a hard to find Ronald Blythe which we were very happy with. As with books at the basin not worth a detour but definitely worth a look if in the area.  David 15.08.24

George Street Books/GLOSSOP/14-16 George Street
George Street Books  Open at advertised times
14-16 George Street   GLOSSOP   SK13 8AY
map
tel: 01457 853413  web 
Open:  Monday & Tuesday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
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An old-style, low-key browsers' bookshop offering a really wide choice of interesting fiction and non-fiction. From July 2018 it is being run as a community enterprise.

The shop is sizeable and well laid out, with a range of fiction and non-fiction that should provide satisfaction for all browsers. Highly recommended  Bridget the Browser 
The stock is varied and sizeable, but the pricing is somewhat inconsistent and perhaps a little above average. However, it is certainly worth a visit and I'm sure that collectors would not come away empty handed.  Nicholas Pendower 01.11.12
A visit made even more welcome by the most helpful lady in charge. A wide selection of titles with plenty on Lancashire and local towns. Children's books had their own alcove with hundreds of annuals noted. Well worth a visit.  Chris Harte 23.03.15
Hidden away down a side street, the shop is old fashioned and quaint. Non fiction was mostly upstairs and I found a few things to buy, quite cheaply. Many shelves were double stacked which I'm not personally a fan of but I know some are. Worth stopping by, although the shop seemed a little neglected and dated.  Flip M 10.08.17
Apparently changed hands but still same old tired stock - no quality. Asked new owner about an un-priced pamphlet and immediately scanned to Iphone to find his {ABE] price which he quoted! Did not buy & will not be going back.  Wiz collector 09.08.18
We found it closed on Monday, 6.8.18 with a notice in the window saying it had been sold and a community group was being formed to manage it. Something for all of us to support in whatever way possible. (Good range of stock when we were last there in 2017.)  S+S 09.08.18
The shop is now run as a community enterprise under a part-time manager. Currently it is unchanged from its previous incarnation but there are plans afoot to refurbish and reorder the space to facilitate events. Pricing is internet-based, taking a middle-of-the-road approach. Disappointingly, their plans do not sound to involve refreshing and upgrading the rather tired and ordinary stock. I hope I am wrong, but this looks, at least for the forseeable future, to be a local bookshop for local people.  TravellingLibrary 04.07.19
The shop is easy to spot with its bright yellow paintwork down a quiet street just off the main drag. Ground floor is mostly devoted to fiction. Quite a high proportion of hardbacks in the mix which are mostly priced at a reasonable £3-4. Upstairs is non-fiction and as you climb the stairs you pass a decent selection of music books. Books upstairs are roughly categorised into subject areas so fairly easy to browse. Friendly staff member wished each customer “happy reading” after their purchase. As previously noted, it’s a community enterprise so worthy of our support.   Jon R 02.11.23
As previously mentioned it is mostly fiction downstairs, also biography and children's. A mix of hardback and paperback. Non fiction upstairs. Condition mostly good and prices fair. We made a few purchases. Definitely worth a look if in the area.   David 17.08.24

Hawkridge Books /BAKEWELL/14 Matlock Street  
Hawkridge Books   Open at advertised times
14 Matlock Street    BAKEWELL  DE45 1EE
map
tel:  01629 815547  e-mail   web
Open:  Closed Wednesday and Sunday, other days 10.00 - 5.00
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Specialist in ornithology and natural history, but selling books in all subjects. Antiquarian and fine books. 9000 volumes of quality books. Formerly at Castleton, Derbyshire (1995-2010)

A beautifully organised shop with a large selection of stock across a range of subject areas. Particularly strong on Topography, First edition fiction and Folio society books… not cheap, but not as expensive as you might imagine form the quality of their stock  Archive61 04.10.21
Visited just before Easter. Lovely shop in the middle of Bakewell. Particularly strong on Folio, poetry, and ornithology. Fair pricing and friendly welcome.  Alex Johnson  19.04.22
As others have said this is a beautiful shop. It is well organised and everything is in immaculate condition. Our only caveat is that we thought the prices were on the high side. One volume priced at £15.00 was found in the bookshop at New Mills for £8.00. But despite this the shop is well worth visiting and with the amount of stock held you stand a good chance of finding that book you have been searching for.  David 05.06.22
This is a superb shop and definitely WWAD. While it specialises in natural history, and ornithology in particularly, it has wide-ranging holdings in other subjects and all the books are in good clean condition - and are priced accordingly, but then you can’t expect quality for a pound or two. Folio Society books are another speciality and the shelves give the impression that they contain an example of pretty much every book the FS ever produced. From the outside the shop looks quite small, but step inside and it turns into a Tardis covering two large floors - look at the photos on the website to get a feel. I spent an hour inside and could easily have spent much longer - as I say, WWAD.  Henry Middleton 09.09.23
Wonderful shop. Most categories covered with natural history and Folio Society strongly represented. All in excellent condition. Not unexpectedly it was very busy on a Saturday in August when we visited. We made some purchases with which we were very happy and would say definitely WWAD but preferably not in August.  David 11.08.24

High Street Books  /NEW MILLS/6 High Street  
High Street Books    Open at advertised times
6 High Street    NEW MILLS  SK22 4AL
map
tel:  01663 308212  e-mail   web   
Open:  Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
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All manner of books, records and comics. Warehouse just around the corner with 20,000 catalogued items. Under new ownership since 2010.

The window display tempts you in ... lovely little shop, wide variety of stock ... and loads of vinyl downstairs.  Mike 05.10.12
It's great to find a shop of this quality in a small town, with a wide variety of stock and a helpful owner. And yes, there is lots of vinyl downstairs, but because the place is geared up to selling on the internet you are unlikely to land yourself many bargains. Still worth a visit though.  Nicholas Pendower 01.11.12
Excellent shop. Good prices, helpful but not intrusive staff. To use a Driffism WAD.  David 18.06.16
I buy all over the country but this is my local secondhand bookshop. Beats many shops I go into these days for good range of competitively priced books. New stock always being added and tired stock is weeded out so I often find something when I visit. Recommended.  Ed 25.01.17
Super little bookshop; the kind one dreams of discovering but, sadly, is becoming increasingly rare. Good stock; reasonably priced; very helpful owner.  MG 24.06.17
Excellent bookshop - small but perfectly stocked with a well-chosen variety of interesting books in good condition at reasonable prices.  Edmund Bennett 07.07.21

MDS Book Sales/GLOSSOP/128 Pike_s Lane
MDS Book Sales  Open at advertised times
128 Pike's Lane  GLOSSOP  SK13 8EH
map
tel:  01457 861508  e-mail   web  
Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10.00 - 4.30
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Specialist seller (and also publisher) of transport-related books. Shop established in 1978. New and second-hand books. Very comprehensive range on buses and trolleybuses, trams, trains, light rail, shipping, aviation, cars, commercial vehicles and more, including many out-of-print titles. Second-hand stock comprises around 2,500 books.


Oxfam Books/BELPER/65a King Street
Oxfam Books    Open at advertised times
65a King Street    BELPER  DE56 1QA
map
tel:  01773 823410  e-mail   web   
Open:  Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00, Sunday 11.00 - 2.00
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Quite a large Oxfam Bookshop, and quite a good one too. Belper, an old mill town in the Derwent Valley, has some affluent areas, and this shows in the quality of some of the stock here. The pricing is more homogeneous than I have seen at any other Oxfam shop: the vast majority of books here are £2.99. Plenty of classics, literary fiction and modern mid- and mass-market paperback novels, including a decent choice of crime fiction and thrillers. The poetry and drama sections are high-quality (£1.99 or £2.99). A good selection of modern children's books, with price tags from 99p to £2.99, but all currently at half the marked price. Lots of Ladybirds and a couple of dozen vintage children's novels. A small foreign-language fiction section contains novels in Polish, as well as the usual Western European languages. Also a small LGBTQ section. The non-fiction stock is quite good, especially for transport, gardening, crafts, cookery, health/wellbeing and sport. Any Wolverhampton Wanderers fans living nearby should take a look, as someone has donated a couple of dozen books about the club. Lots of biographies, some mass-market, but others higher-quality. The history section is quite small and not especially good. The military stock (which includes books on WW1 and WW2) is larger, but also unexceptional, as are the travel and art sections. Lots of music scores (£1.99) and sheet music (49p). The "old and interesting" books (not actually labelled as such) are not exactly spiffing, but are fairly priced. About half the books in the glass cabinets are marked up too high, the exceptions being books on Derbyshire. Also about 40 Folio Society volumes, significantly overpriced. Belper is surrounded by nice countryside and is quite a characterful town with a nice feel to it. But it is just far enough south to be spared the hordes of tourists that sometimes blight the Peak District, a few miles further north. This shop is at the top end of King Street, towards Market Place - further up than the general (and considerably smaller) Oxfam shop, on the other side of the road - and only a few minutes' walk from Belper railway station.   Booker T 05.09.24

Oxfam Bookshop/ASHBOURNE/1 Dig Street
Oxfam Bookshop  Open at advertised times
1 Dig Street   ASHBOURNE   DE6 1GF
map
tel: 01335 344614  e-mail 
Open:  Monday - Saturday 9.15 - 5.00.
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Usual Oxfam stock - good prices, wide range. Donations welcome: we also collect locally. Do you love books? Volunteers always needed, for sorting, pricing and online research. Give us a call!

While I bought a few things here, in general the pricing was all over the place. There was a fair stock, but as with most Oxfam shops, anything remotely valuable or unusual had a ridiculously eye-watering price attached to it. Soulless laminate floors to go with the squeaky-clean stock. Not one for a detour.  Nicholas Pendower 12.04.14
A complete contrast to the Matlock branch. In fact, very much like Oxfam bookshops in general: overpriced, often very dull stock; puffed-up, ignorant staff (yes, I know they're only volunteers). Charity bookshops are mostly dire, I'm afraid.  Andrew Bradley 12.07.14

Oxfam Bookshop/MATLOCK/70 Dale Road
Oxfam Bookshop    Open at advertised times
70 Dale Road    MATLOCK  DE4 3LT
map
tel:  01629 55799  e-mail   web  
Open: Monday 9.30 - 5.00, Tuesday 9.30 - 4.00, Wednesday 10.00 - 5.00, Thursday 10.00 - 4.00, Friday 10.00 - 5.00, Saturday 9.30 - 5.00, Sunday 11.00 - 4.00.
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Small shop, but with plenty of second-hand fiction and non-fiction at low prices.

Difficult parking on a busy road and very ordinary, small stock. No substitute for the three second hand bookshops there used to be in the town.  Lost Club 16.11.09
A sweet little shop near the bridge to the park. A good well-ordered selection of classic and modern fiction - some very new titles can often be found there - and non-fiction. Volunteers are always very friendly!  Ellie 03.01.12
Well worth a visit if visiting Matlock/Cromford. I've had some real bargains from here - -including rarities that seem to have slipped through the net. Everyman's Library generally priced at 99p - excellent.  Andrew Bradley 03.07.14
The only Oxfam bookshop I visit on a regular basis. Still stuffed with bargains, e.g. lots of Penguins (Salinger, Updike, Henry Roth, other American authors) at 99p or £1.99. Look out for stock they don't know how to really categorise ...  Andrew Bradley 15.08.15
I always enjoy this little shop.  TravellingLibrary 13.03.17
Now definitely re-opened  Gary 08.01.23
A small shop, but not a bad stock, at generally low prices. A good range of classic and literary fiction (paperbacks mostly £1.99). Modern mid- and mass-market paperbacks are priced slightly higher, mostly £2.99 (some £2.49 or £1.99). Plenty of recently published crime fiction (mostly £2.99). A good choice of sci-fi/fantasy (very mixed pricing). Also quite a lot of graphic novels. Quite good for poetry and drama. Lots of Folio Society volumes, priced rather steeply; the shop manager thinks highly enough of these to house some of them in a locked glass cabinet. A small but good-quality stock of children's books, mostly £1.99. For non-fiction, there are small but fairly good sections for natural history, crafts/hobbies, biography and sport. A couple of shelves of rather battered Pelicans, at £2.99 each. History and travel are among the largest sections, but contain nothing special. Quite an extensive art stock, but overpricing is in evidence here. This Oxfam Bookshop is far smaller and less good than the one at nearby Belper and is NWAD in its own right, but you should cast an eye over the stock here if you come to visit the marvellous Peak Dragon Books, a stone's throw away on the same road.  Booker T 05.09.24

Oxfam Shop/GLOSSOP/12 Henry Street
Oxfam Shop  Open at advertised times
12 Henry Street   GLOSSOP   SK13 8BW
map
tel: 01457 858388  web 
Open:  Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 4.30.
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What a surprise. An Oxfam shop nearly equal to a proper bookshop in quantity, quality and price. The manageress was book savvy and knew her job so it was fascinating to chat with her. Some very good titles on the shelves and all categorised. Prices very reasonable. I left with a bag full. Well worth a visit.  Chris Harte 23.03.15
Well organised, a decent and easy to browse selection, although nothing out of the ordinary really. Prices reasonable (not always the case with Oxfam shops). If going to George St Books, its worth popping in (about 5 mins walk away).  Flip M 10.08.17
Nice, bright, well-laid out and obviously well-run shop with interesting stock. Prices mostly very reasonable. Our trip netted some 20 books. I call that a successful visit!  TravellingLibrary 04.07.19

OxfamShop/DERBY/67 St. Peter_s Street
Oxfam Shop  Phone before travelling
67 St. Peter's Street  DERBY  DE1 2AB
map
tel:  01332 384820  e-mail   web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00, Sunday 11.00 - 3.00 but ring first
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General Oxfam shop just a stone's throw away from the Derbion in the centre of town. About half of the shop is given over to books and records.

Not necessarily WAD but seems to have a slightly better than average selection of titles for an Oxfam shop.  Stive 17.09.22

Peak Dragon Books/MATLOCK/39 Dale Road
Peak Dragon Books    Open at advertised times
39 Dale Road  MATLOCK  DE4 3LT
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tel:  01629 818793. mob: 07740 200594  e-mail   web   
Open: Wednesday - Saturday 10.30 - 4.30, Sunday 11.00 - 4.30. Sometimes open later, but earlier in winter esp. Sundays. Monday & Tuesday by appointment.
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A general second-hand bookshop on the edge of the Peak District. Specialities include art, history, local history and British topography. Also a good stock of fiction. Competitive prices. Step-free access, car parks and railway station nearby.

Why no previous reviews of this shop? A flying visit left me hungry for my next trip here. After a visit to Long established shops in Cromford and Buxton which have been living off their reputation for too long my visit to Peak Dragon was a joy. Good selection, excellent condition and prices I haven’t seen for a long time. Hopefully this shop and the one in Wirksworth are good examples of what can be achieved in the second hand book trade. WWAD  Bazza  10.05.23
As stated above the stock is in good condition with reasonable prices on the whole. I would say that it is worth checking their opening hours before travelling as they occasionally vary due to the time of year.   David 11.08.24
An outstanding shop - one of the best for many miles around - which opened in 2022. A large main room and two smaller rooms at the back. The proprietors have had shops in Manchester and Hull in the past 30 years, and they know what they're doing. The stock here is very good and in fine condition. To make things even better, most of the prices are low, some very much so. In the main room, the stock of novels and poetry is nothing short of superb. The drama section is slightly less good, but still creditable. Lots of Folio Society volumes at very cheap prices. Not much in the way of children's books, although there are a few vintage titles. About 120 Observer books for sale at prices from £2 to £8, depending on age and condition. Outstanding for history. Lots of books on Russia. Also good for military history, politics, philosophy, transport (not just railways), cookery and cinema. The glass cabinets contain some genuinely rare historical and topographical books, at fairly reasonable prices, given their scarcity. One of the back rooms contains a very good selection on natural history, also gardening and topography. Notably strong for books on local history (including other Midland counties) and climbing/walking. The other back room has a good stock of art and architecture books, very competitively priced. I spent some time chatting with one of the owners, likeable but waspish. She doesn't suffer fools gladly, as attested to by signs in the shop, for example: "Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character, not an author. Find him under 'D' for Arthur Conan Doyle" and "Please note: Jane Eyre does not write books. She is a fictional character from a novel by Charlotte Brontë"... not to everyone's liking, perhaps, but if I ran a bookshop, they're the sort of signs I might put up. When I asked about the opening hours, she said: "We close when I get fed up!" In practice, that means 4.30pm, sometimes 5pm, occasionally 5.30pm. No point ringing to check, though, as those decisions are made on the spur of the moment. On the main road, just a couple of minutes from the railway station. Easily accessible for those with disabilities. Certainly WWAD.  Booker T 05.09.24

Peak Volumes/TIDESWELL/Guildhall Bank Square
Peak Volumes  Open at advertised times
Guildhall Bank Square  TIDESWELL  SK17 8NT
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tel:  07821 131702  e-mail   web  
Thursday - Sunday 10.30 - 5.30
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Large stock of fiction, detective fiction, science fiction and fantasy. Most other areas of interest, with particularly extensive transport, political biography, history and travel literature (not guides) sections. Free parking.

Condition varied and prices mostly good but some a bit pricey. We found a couple of good ones and I would say it is well worth visiting if in the area.  Vicky 05.06.22
A lot of ex-library stock, which may put off the collector. I found a couple of items but the prices were more than double what they should have been, so back on the shelf they went. An interesting shop in a village very popular with hikers and cyclists.   Stive 25.02.24
Attractive old building. As previously stated there is a lot of ex-library stock and a lot of optimistic pricing. Condition was variable. We left empty handed. NWAD.  David 11.08.24

Scarthin Books/CROMFORD/The Promenade
Scarthin Books  Open at advertised times
The Promenade  Scarthin   CROMFORD   DE4 3QF
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tel: 01629 823272  e-mail  web 
Open:  Monday-Saturday 9.00 - 6.00, Sundays and New Years Day 12.00 - 6.00.
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Great location by the river, busy cafe, lots of books but odd practice of mingling new and second hand together. Limited nearby parking.  Lost Club 16.11.09
I could spend all day here, with so many different rooms, little nooks and crannies, hidden corners and book stacks to browse! We usually take a 'tea and cake' break partway through in the lovely cafe before hitting the shelves again. Have picked up some great secondhand bargains and new books here - the staff are very knowledgeable too - and it's a lovely spot to visit of an afternoon.  Ellie 03.01.12
Up a side street from the square in Cromford, I had really high hopes for this shop. Once inside, I felt a wee bit overwhelmed. You really need several hours just to scratch the surface. Lacking this, I made a beeline for my usual subjects but was put off somewhat by the mixing of new and second-hand titles. I eventually left feeling somewhat frustrated. Shall try again when I've got more time to spare!  Graeme Rendall 22.10.12
Always worth a visit, but the practice of mixing new and old is a bit off-putting. Excellent cafe.  GB 19.11.12
I find the mixing of old and new at Scarthins quite useful - after all if you are interested in, say, dragonflies or arts & crafts houses or pre-dreadnought battleships you're likely to be pleased to see both old and new books on the subject.  Henry Middleton 30.11.12
The mixing of old & new books is strange especially as some of the new books are obviously several years old and look like bright second-hand copies.  Mr Superbus 12.02.13
I rather like the new and old together as it helps my specialisms hunts. Very decent prices, nice cafe, old fashioned shop, excellent all round for a detailed visit.  Norman Davies 01.05.13
It had been fourteen years since my last visit and I had completely forgotten what a treasure trove this bookshop holds. For all of my time on the premises everyone I came across was helpful and I was taken to all the sections which contained books I collect. The holdings are so massive that it would be unfair to categorise them. I came away with a car boot full of gems. WWAD.  Chris Harte 11.07.13
Three-storey building, once a dwelling, now entirely given over to bookshelves. Even the loo houses the Victorian sets. Priced competitively and the stock seems to be frequently refreshed. Cafe is a bit "right-on" for non-veggies, but the books make up for this.  Charles Murray 21.11.13
This is everything a good bookshop should be. It has an extensive, interesting and sensibly priced stock, which is helpfully laid out over three floors and is all well chosen and presented. The staff are cheerful, helpful and knowledgeable, and the place has a very professional atmosphere. On top of that its open seven days a week, so what more could you want? One of the best shops I've visited for some time and well worth a detour.  Nicholas Pendower 12.04.14
Given up after many - too many - years. Ditsy café workers discussing personal problems; piles of books lying around waiting to trap the unwary; every cretin in Derbyshire roaming around at weekends ...  Andrew Bradley 21.06.14
I have tried very hard to like this shop but have now given up. They seem to buy in very little antiquarian stock, and the most interesting titles are beyond reach on a high shelf marked 'Internet Stock'. The implication is that you can't touch it. They also put obviously second-hand books on the 'new shelves' and try to charge you the publisher's original listed price at the till. But the thing that finally tipped-me over the edge was this: they have a beam circa 6 feet high that I have often banged my head on. On the beam is a sign saying 'If your head touches this you can claim £4 worth of free books'. I have never sought to take them up on the offer but decided I would on my last visit, if for no other reason than I had decided to buy an over-priced item and wanted the price somehow adjusted more fairly. But when I tried to obtain the discount (I am somewhere between 6ft 3 and 4) the woman at the till asked me where my children were. Why? I asked. "Because," she explained, "the offer applied to parents with children because the low beam is in the children's section". Utterly absurd! I have regularly scoured the children's section and believe the discount should apply to anyone trying to negotiate the low beam in that part of the shop. Needless to say, the sign does not restrict the discount to parents. When I explained that my child is disabled and would not be able to cope with either their messy shop or the steep steps, and tat I therefore bought books for him on my own, a very grudging and disbelieving discount was offered. I refused it and paid the full price. This wasn't quite prejudice against the disabled but it falls half way between. Anyway, I will never enter the shop again.  Mr Superbus 27.04.15
After reading the comments of Mr Superbus and Andrew Bradley it seems to me that Scarthin Books were extremely fortunate in raising £12,000 recently from their customers. If only they'd heeded the warnings of the prophets.  Mab 19.05.15
Just up (and away) from the tourist bustle of Matlock Bath is this gem. It is the very epitome of what a secondhand bookshop should be, a little Aladdin's cave with books in all sorts of nooks and crannies. Prices very reasonable, although new and secondhand shelves are intermingled throughout the shop.  Steven Kelly 10.08.17
This is a legend in the east midlands! 3 floors of well-sorted books open 7 days til late, with 50p books kept in outdoor porch with honesty-box for out-of-hours purchases; knowledgable staff; cultural events like philosophers' café and poetry readings. Some bizarre comments above by humourless visitors with no common sense; the new books are on separate shelves in joint sections but apparently this (to quote Peter Cook) could easily confuse a stupid person. One of the best shops in the Country.  glenk 10.07.18
Visited for the 1st time as a birthday treat on a sunny July weekday and it is easy to see why this is so highly regarded. First its location is fantastic with a large pound with ducks and swans and the river just opposite. Parking was available in the Greyhound car park down the hill or one can park for 30mins on the street outside. The shop benefits from having onsite toilet and cafe. All books are sorted and the 2nd hand are kept apart from the new. The new stock seemed to all be at RRP so not great but the 2nd hand titles is where this shop shines. I came away with 5 books and a discount and £2 worth of Scarthin book tokens which I then proceeded to spend immediately in the cafe. This shop is what all 2nd hand bookshops should aspire to.  Laurence Batchelor 03.08.18
Six years since my last report and the stock is still as interesting as ever. Many staff changes meant that the treasures in the attic were not available to be seen. The problem with going in late August were pretentious parents showing off their little knowledge of books to clearly bored children.  Chris Harte 03.09.19
Wonderful shop and great cafe. Lovely afternoon out.  Bibliopolis 11.11.19
A classic case of the demise of bookshop where a decade ago this shop had interesting well priced book shelves. Now those shelves are still full but with largely tired run of the mill uninteresting stock [due to their heavy internet operation so the public never see them].

I always used to find a pile of books, but no more. If you do stumble on a nice collectable item make sure a chair is at hand because the price may well not be a bargain. Their last review from me as I will not be going back
  High Peaker 16.08.21
As a regular visitor for in excess of thirty years, I have noted a drop in the quality of the books being offered for sale. But what annoyed me more was the attitude of some of the male staff. They were certainly not interested in directing a customer to where his interests might be found. In the end it took one of the cafe's waitresses to show me what I wanted to see: what had once been on shelves forming the side of a wall in a room was now just a six foot long shelf precariously perched above a window. Oh dear!  Chris Harte 20.02.22
As we were in Cromford visiting Countryside books we thought we may as well look in at Scarthin and see if there had been any improvement since we were last there.

But, as recent comments show, it continues to decline. The percentage of new books continue to increase and the second-hand stock doesn't appear to have been refreshed for years.

It is very sad as this used to be an essential port of call but no more. There also seems to be a high proportion of pretentious customers there these days.
  David 07.06.22
Have to agree with the recent comments. It does appear that second-hand stock is being run down rather than replenished. The language section hidden via a precarious garden path is now almost neat and tidy, whereas it used to be chock full with immovable boxes and crates strewn all over the floor and over the piano. Sadly, the stench of mildew permeates the air and has feasted on some books. Still, it boasts the largest collection of (sadly not very interesting) Icelandic books I have seen on my travels, so there's that. Prices are still on the high side given the condition of the stock.   Stive 25.02.24

Scriveners Books and Bookbinding/BUXTON/42 High Street
Scriveners Books and Bookbinding  Open at advertised times
42 High Street   BUXTON   SK17 6HB
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tel: 01298 73100 
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Characterful shop and large stock but distinctly over-priced. Vintage hardback fiction often double the going rate.  Lost Club 16.11.09
Very friendly helpful staff. Many books in fine condition, even in shrink-wrap. Discount offered on modest multiple purchase.  Leo 27.07.11
Downstairs had the older books. They were not classified but arranged higgledy piggledy. It looked the kind of place where you might find a bargain but the books in my speciality all were hugely overpriced.  Egertonian 12.07.12
Lovely, rambling shop which always a treat to visit. Like others, I find books in my speciality somewhat overpriced - but came away with a bargain.  GB 19.11.12
Pricey. I ended up buying something I did not want through sheer exasperation. I heard the owner say to a couple who had brought some books in "We don't buy books anymore but I still collect certain things myself so might be interested in just one or two."  Mr Superbus 12.02.13
This has to be one of the biggest/best old fashioned layouts. Sadly the prices for my specialisations are beyond eye watering (double in many cases), but I always buy something decent here just to keep this wonderful shop going!  Norman Davies 01.05.13
Initial impressions are good as this shop has a lot of the characteristics that book-buyers like; lots of books, an old-fashioned atmosphere and helpful staff (perhaps a bit TOO enthusiastic), but, despite wanting to feel positive about the place, that is as far as one can go. The stock is tired, muddled and vastly overpriced, with quaint and irrelevant presentation. While Im sure that this shop has a place in the affections of some buyers, it really doesn't offer a very positive experience for the serious buyer, and I can't honestly see why anyone would want to purchase books here when they can be bought for half the price elsewhere.  Nicholas Pendower 12.07.14
An even sillier bookshop than Scarthin - self-conscious beyond belief. Where do they get their prices from? Make them up? Really, in this internet age, they're going to have to do better than this.  Andrew Bradley 12.07.14
I so want to wish Scriveners well - I've found some extraordinary items there. But there are also books on the shelves which were there when I first moved here six years ago. Have a sale!!! Make some space!  Charles Murray 26.07.14
Big, rambling, atmospheric shop which I've visited once a year for the past four years. Sadly, it appears to be going downhill: scarcely any new stock in that time, gaps now appearing on the shelves, and, worst of all, dampness affecting all the books in the basement (this is new since last year). A great pity if this decline continues, because Scrivener's has the potential to be a great bookshop.  Robin James 08.08.15
Such a disappointment. This could be a great bookshop again if they would just clear out the tat and halve the prices of the remaining stock.  Loyola 13.04.17
Packed with interesting stock across five floors. I have visited on numerous occasions over the past year and have never left empty handed!  Archive61 04.10.21
One of the best secondhand bookshops I've been to. Five floors of excellent, wide-ranging stock. Especially strong children's section and dedicated music room with playable instruments included! They also put on various community events and it was a pleasure to see a couple of working printing presses in action.  Alex Johnson 19.04.22
I've wanted to visit this place for 15 years. Sadly my expectations didn't live up to reality. The military history section in the cellar was around 70% empty shelves. The 30% remaining were all dross and of low quality. Many hardbacks are without dustjackets with their spines so faded its hard to browse as I had to open every book to see what it is. The maritime and naval sections where a little more plentiful but still full of low quality titles and even the ex-library Jane's Fighting Ships were all over priced. No purchases made on 1st visit.

I returned on my second day of holiday in Buxton just to give it a 2nd chance, this time with my family. They did the children's area upstairs whilst I hit the antiquarian and collectable and 'abebooks areas' on the main ground floor. I was glad it wasn't just me struggling to buy a book in one of 'The Guardian's top 10 UK 2nd hand bookshops' as my wife also commented my children could find nothing to buy. After intense rummaging we found 2 childrens books eventually - 1 unpriced- and I managed to find a 2 volume naval set on the stairs, but never have I ever left a bookshop in the UK, of this size or history, and struggled so much to find books to buy! It seems its more geared to bookbinding and as all the quality stock on the ground floor is priced and listed on - the American book exchange ABE - with coloured coded bookmarks but all jumbled up on different shelves and bookcases its hard to browse even those!

I would advise the shops owners to perhaps invest in better stock and not sell everything decent off online. There was also several bags of book donations on the floor awaiting sorting and therefore not browseable.
  Laurence Batchelor 01.06.22
Our experience here was very similar to Lawrence Batchelor's. A lot of very tired stock although concentrated rummaging did manage to unearth a couple of volumes. We were there on a Saturday but were unable to view anything on the top floor as the walls on the staircase up to the top were in the process of being painted and it was blocked off. Surely the time to redecorate is when the shop is closed so that customers can view the stock during opening hours?  David 05.06.22
Nothing seems to have changed much here since our last visit 2 years ago. Quite a lot of tired stock. Condition of much of it not great and a tendency to price optimistically. But we were able to access the top floor this time and did find one book to buy.  David 13.08.24

Sudbury Hall Book Room/ASHBOURNE/Sudbury Hall and the Museum of Childhood (National Trust)
Sudbury Hall Book Room  Open at advertised times
Sudbury Hall and the Museum of Childhood (National Trust)  Main Road  Sudbury   ASHBOURNE   DE6 5HT
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tel: 01283 585337  web 
Open:  See website
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The bookshop is very small - a few hundred books, CDs and DVDs for sale only in a converted barn - and is located through the first right-hand door before you get to the visitor's desk and is signposted. Parking is about 500m away down and across the other side of the road. I visited on a Sunday and no purchases were made as I found zero military non-fiction and nothing in the children's section for the kids. The NT could do with improving the stock on this one from their central stores.  Laurence Batchelor 22.01.20