Bridget Browses some Lincolnshire Bookshops

26.04.05 There are some great secondhand bookshops in Lincolnshire but they weren't in Lincoln where I expected to find them but in Stamford which boasts four excellent shops, all of a good size, run by knowledgeable staff and with wide-ranging stocks. Well worth seeking them out for a good afternoon's browse. The town itself provides excellent maps on every corner so all four can be easily found.

In Lincoln itself, Trayers at 211 High Street is now Phones4U but I found a new shop called Bailgate Books at 8 Bailgate with a small general stock but room to grow.

The other Lincoln shops are in the same area, around the cathedral. Readers Rest is a large premises with several rooms of books and is the best of them.

The Harlequin in Steep Street was poorly organised but OK if you like a rummage with double layers of books on most shelves and others stacked on the floor.

The Jews Court Bookshop has a small well-organised stock emphasising local history and also stocks new books on local history (and new books in the Shire series).

Village Books at 61 Westgate, Grantham now just stocks remainders and the other shop in Grantham, Eskay Books, is only open Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10.00 - 4.00 and Saturday 9.00 - 4.30 so I missed it.

Westgate Bookshop in Sleaford is well-worth seeking out. It doesn't look much from the front but speak nicely to the knowledgeable but quirky owner and he'll let you view the semi-organised stock in the "garage" at the back. An Aladdin's Cave for browsers and all at low prices.

My last visit was to Autumn Leaves, a small shop behind the Co-op in Nettleham. A friendly owner and a small, well-organised stock targeted at locals.

Happy browsing, Bridget.