| Aardvark Books Ltd 
The Bookery
Manor Farm Brampton Bryan
BUCKNELL Shropshire SY7 0DH map
tel: 01547 530888 or 01547 530744 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 5.00, Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Sunday 10.00 -4 .00.
50,000 titles covering all subjects. Books are a mixture of secondhand, new, remainders and a small section of rare and antiquarian. Particularly strong for art and related areas. Interested in purchasing libraries. Recently moved up the road to a larger building.
Two floors of a converted barn stuffed with many remainders obtained from Llangollen. On arrival presented with a 'route-guide' of the bookshelves which was not really needed. Quite a number of used books but only one very small side piece of shelving which contained the 'rare' (!) section. My wife called the place "sterile" while I found the rushing around of the self important staff quite amusing. Yes, there were a lot of books but bulk does not equal substance. There will not be a return visit. - Chris Harte 17.08.10.
Notwithstanding the posted review we continue to thrive (has given much amusement and have posted it up in the shop as the equivalent of the slave who used to whisper in the ear of generals granted triumphs). - Sheridan Swinson Aardvark Books Ltd 26.05.11.
I've been there a couple of times and quite like it. The book stock is quite large and varied. There is a little area for drinks and snacks. There is a large parking area just outside. The people are welcoming. The surrounding countryside is beautiful. It is a nice day out. - Paul Mountford 13.03.12.
Barn Books
Pear Tree Farm
Norbury
WHITCHURCH Shropshire SY13 4HZ map
tel: 01948 663742 fax: 01948 663742 e-mail web
Open: Friday - Sunday and bank holidays 10.00 - 5.00.
With three rooms of books - local history, gardening, countryside interest are the main topics - with books on many other subjects as well. The Bookshop is situated in a Barn in the Countryside with ample parking space.It is on the Cheshire/Shropshire Border with a Shropshire address but is just in Cheshire.
Book Stalls
The Market Hall
SHREWSBURY Shropshire SY1 1HX map
tel: 01743 351067 or 07545 514660 web
Open: Tuesday & Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 9.00 - 4.00.
Four stalls selling all sorts of books. Market Books - Second hand books, pictures and ephemera bought and sold. More Books - Approximately 15,000 second hand books, both fiction and non-fiction. Pengwern Books - New books, second hand books. White Rabbit Records & Books - Music books and poetry, local books and fiction, including modern first editions and signed books.
A real find. Good range and sometimes you can find more unusual titles. Very positive atmosphere in the Market . Last visit on a Saturday and two of the s/h bookstalls were shut up by 3.45. How can they do business if they're shut? "You cannot be serious". - Book Buyer 18.11.11.
There are two excellent permanent stalls on top floor of market (don't miss them) with a wide range of decently priced books. Ground floor has one largish seller plus Pengwern (mainly new). Well worth a visit and make a day with the other shops in Shrewsbury. - Norman Davies 19.04.12.
MORE BOOKS deserves its own listing as it is spread over five units on the first floor. The quality of their holdings quite staggered me for I do not really expect to see such welcome titles in a market. Much in the way of pre-1914 publications. Allow at least an hour here. MARKET BOOKS on the ground floor has three shelves of mid-war paperbacks as well as a general selection. WHITE RABBIT is, as it says in the heading, 'records & books', with the latter being worth a look, especially those behind the glass in cabinets. PENGWERN BOOKS is a small unit of new books and greeting cards. - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
BooksIsell 
85 High Street
NEWPORT Shropshire TF10 7AY map
tel: 01952 81168
Open: Unknown
I asked the owner when he was open and his reply was 'when I'm here, which is most of the time'. (This obviously isn't quite true as I'd phoned at different times over four days before catching him on the fifth attempt - so be warned.) I asked about his stock and he said that he 'didn't have any books people would want to buy'. - TBG 20.05.10.
Candle Lane Books
28 Princess Street
SHREWSBURY Shropshire SY1 1LW map
tel: 01743 365301
Open: Monday & Thursday 9.30 - 12.30, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 9.30 - 4.00.
Rare books, first editions, bindings, literature and local topography.
An amazing find, tucked away behind The Square in the centre of Shrewsbury, and spread over four floors (though the attic one is quite small). Strong on antiquarian, and of course Shropshire topography and local history, also children's books. A higher proportion of the stock than is usual in bookshops these days seems to be from the first half of the last century (and before) - though hopefully this is not a sign of low turnover! I only made one purchase, but I'm sure if I'd had more time I should have been able to find more. - Henry Middleton 15.10.09.
Like the previous reviewer, I have to agree that this shop was a really good find when visiting the town. Very clean and tidy with a good quality stock - many books in original dust jackets. Very strong on county and general topography - probably on all other subjects too. The item I purchased was wrapped in brown paper with the name of the shop (a really nice touch). - The Brummie Bookman 16.07.11.
As other reviewers have said, this is a most wonderful shop. Family owned, it shows love and attention throughout all of the rooms. Each area is categorised and for my specialities it was like being a child again in a room full of chocolate. I gorged on the titles and ended up by buying 32 volumes (and they took a cheque without question!). - Chris Harte 18.06.12.
Craven Arms Bookshop
Unit 2 Drovers House
The Old Auction Yard
CRAVEN ARMS Shropshire SY7 9BZ
tel: 01588 673902
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
Donated books sold in support of the Severn Hospice.
Among the usual charity paperbacks I found a few hardback pleasant surprises at very competitive prices. Worth a visit but obviously high turnover, so you never know. - Norman Davies 19.04.12.
Unpredictable - but often more hit than miss. Quick turnover so nearly always something worth the visit. Very reasonable prices. Clean and tidy - but in a good way for a bookshop. - Book Buyer 26.07.12.
Hall of Books
Oswestry Indoor Market
Powis Hall Bailey Head
OSWESTRY Shropshire SY11 1PZ map
tel: 07866 720787 e-mail web
Open: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 9.00 - 4.00.
We sell secondhand books and sheet music online and from Oswestry Indoor Market. Modern first edition hardbacks and quality paperbacks to the interesting, unusual and rare; the hard to find, collectible and out of print, and a lot more in between! Please email us if you have any specific requirements.
Very friendly shop - large quantity of books in a small space - attractively laid out. - Bookfiend 16.02.13.
I have read the above review and wondered if the reviewer had the right place. Tucked away in a corner on the first floor of the Indoor Market the majority of the offerings, which were mainly fiction, were those of a kind that even a charity shop would refuse to stock. There was very little of quality albeit a small selection of music books and sheets. Where were the 'rare' as stated in the blurb above? The answer: In two other stalls in the market which trade under the nomenclature of 'antique.' - Chris Harte 05.03.13.
Always enjoy browsing the small but well-chosen spiritual book section. Found a copy of "Cloud-Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown" by Alan Watts, great price too. Helpful, friendly bookseller. Have bought about 4 books. Excellent. Will return. - John C 19.03.13.
Hall of Books is a delightful bookshop, with an interesting and varied selection, and very helpful staff. The shop is laid out in a logical way which makes it straightforward to locate titles by theme, and without a doubt there is something for everybody! - gemmipop 19.03.13.
What a nasty, unnecessary little review by Chris Harte. If one bothers to have a good look, there are plenty of little gems tucked away in this shop, and the very obliging seller has a huge amount of interesting and rare books online. - Meredith 19.03.13.
I visited this corner shop as I wanted to see for myself after reading the above reviews. I must confess to have failed miserably to find the "little gems" as stated above. There were lots of fiction; a bit of travel and little to excite anyone other than a general reader. Like the second reviewer I found more interesting books elsewhere in the market. - R.S.Cavendish 06.04.13.
Over 5,000 books and sheet music titles in the shop (I counted) and I discovered access to over 6,000 online plus a book-search facility. It was busy when I visited but the very helpful owner found the time to do an online search for 'Journey's End' recorded by Al Martino, which I ordered and have just received in the post, beautifully packaged. I also bought several books. This shop is clearly much-loved by both locals and visitors like me. I'll be back, as they say. - Graham 17.04.13.
M & M Baldwin
24 High Street
CLEOBURY MORTIMER Shropshire DY14 8BY map
tel: 01299 270110
Much More Books Ltd
6 High Street
MUCH WENLOCK Shropshire TF13 6AA map
tel: 01952 727992 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00, Wednesday 9.30 - 4.00. Sundays (bank holidays and school holidays only) 12.00 - 4.00.
A friendly and fun family business trading since 2003. With over 40000 great secondhand books in stock along side quality CDs and vinyl, thus providing a wide variety of choice! Check out www.muchmorebooks.co.uk or www.muchmoremusic.co.uk or just come along and say hi!
Nicely laid out, great selection of books. My only problem was prices, way over what I expect to pay, and indeed do pay elsewhere. I doubt I will bother returning. - The Wanderer 21.12.09.
Fantastic, friendly service. Relaxing atmosphere to browse wide range of books and music. Good value. Definitely recommend! A real treasure. - Bilbo 18.11.11.
Gone all neat and tidy. Stock well organised if a bit dreary and low key. However, always has something better in the window. Prices often very optimistic. Don't they know about turnover? - Book Buyer 18.11.11.
Visited this shop on a two-day break. Wonderful choice of books. I regretted not buying a particular book. In spite of not having the correct title, author or colour. They found it and sent it, superb service. Recommend highly. - Hazel Wood 09.06.12.
Newport Book Shop
16 Upper Bar
NEWPORT Shropshire TF10 7EJ map
tel: 01952 813900 e-mail
Open: 7 days 11.15 - 5.15.
A wide range of secondhand and antiquarian books, with over 10,000 on display in my shop. Books purchased, book binding and repair.
Shop now open 7 days a week 11am to 5.15pm, owner very helpful, good selection of second hand and antique books,also repaired a book for me which was excellent. - Keith 06.06.11.
Excellent shop, good stock both antiquarian and modern and a very good bookbinder. - John Thackeray 03.05.12.
Once Upon A Tyme
Ground Floor
Powys Hall Market
OSWESTRY Shropshire SY11 1PZ
tel: 01691 661564
Open: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 9.00 - 4.00.
At first sight this appears to be a market shop full of ephemera. A closer look showed rows of bookcases, and tables piled high with magazines, most of which were nearly a century in age. It was the quality of the general non-fiction books which first attracted my eye, then the more than reasonable prices. I did, however, leave with a huge pile of hard-to-find magazines. Much better than others in the market. - Chris Harte 05.03.13.
Tyme is a bric-a-brac shop that sells cheap books - Mills and Boon, Catherine Cookson etc. Like all good bric-a-brac shops it has odd things tucked away but it remains, at heart, a cheap bric-a-brac shop and is well known for this. For books there is much better choice elsewhere in the market. - Graham 17.04.13.
Oxfam Bookshop
10 Dogpole
SHREWSBURY Shropshire SY1 1EN map
tel: 01743 363380
For a charity shop I could not believe how expensive this shop was. The staff were very helpful and the shop was well stocked but the price of the books was crazy. - The Brummie Bookman 16.07.11.
Some prices seem to have got slightly more reasonable recently - about time too. BUT whoever prices the stock still thinks this is Central London. Do they want cash in the till or books on their shelves? Their stockroom is always full. - Book Buyer 18.11.11.
One of the better Oxfams in terms of non-junk stock so worth a look when "doing" Shrewsbury. However ridiculous prices for the goodies: I was told "every book is priced through Abe Books". No comment. - Norman Davies 19.04.12.
All the above reviews are correct. I could hardly believe what I witnessed on my visit to a fairly bog-standard Oxfam shop. The manager was going around the shelves changing marked prices in the books. I stayed and watched, without him realising, and saw mark-ups of sometimes 50% taking place. The comment about using ABE prices is incorrect. The pricing is done at random and is of a stupidly high level for run-of-the-mill tat. A shop to avoid. - Chris Harte 08.01.13.
Oxfam Bookshop
45 The Bullring
LUDLOW Shropshire SY8 1AB map
tel: 01584 876951
Thin stock and overpriced. Curious in such a well heeled place AND no other s/h bookshops left in the town. Good s/h bookstall at the Sunday Antiques Market. - Book Buyer 18.11.11.
As bad as the Oxfam branch in Hereford, and that is saying something. Vast quantities of books are donated and yet almost none ever seem to reach the shelves. Last week the stock in Literature and History was virtually unchanged from it had been three months earlier. Say no more. - The Dikler 09.12.11.
Hurrah! The stock has been refreshed. Some 20 books in the collectable Oxford English Novels series have appeared on the shelves at £19.99 a pop, roughly what they might fetch at a very upmarket shop in Cecil Court, WC2. But in Cecil Court their condition would be FINE (these vary from VERY GOOD to GOOD). And they wouldn't have unsightly Gift Aid stickers stuck irremovably to the first blank page. - The Dikler 01.05.13.
Secondhand Bookshop (Name?)
8 Crown Street
Wellington
TELFORD Shropshire
tel: ?
A traditional shop, with a traditional owner, and a small but wide-ranging stock. Sorry that I have no phone number nor email address for it. - James Mackay 30.01.13.
Wenlock Books
12 High Street
MUCH WENLOCK Shropshire TF13 6AA map
tel: 01952 727877
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.30, Sundays (Easter - Christmas) 11.00 - 5.00.
A new bookshop with a wide range of secondhand books on the first floor. UK Independent Bookseller of the Year 2006. Browsers very welcome: if we're not too busy we'll even serve you tea and cake!
Received 14 separate nominations in 2005 for inclusion in the Guardian's Shoptalk database of "the UK's finest independent bookshops." TBG.
Yarborough House
The Square
BISHOP'S CASTLE Shropshire SY9 5BN map
tel: 01588 638318
Open: Tuesday & Thursday - Sunday 10.00 - 5.30.
We have a large selection of secondhand books covering all topics and we are major specialists in secondhand classical records. Our coffee shop serves tea and coffee throughout the day, and we also have a range of selected gifts and cards.
Well-stocked, pleasant, with refreshments and located in one of Shropshire's more interesting little towns. - Paul Lister.
Very nice indeed with an excellent little cafe and a massive selection of classical CD's & LP's to complement a good selection of general books. - Steve Archer 17.09.09.
I agree with Steve Archer - I didn't have time to sample the cafe but made three excellent book purchases (one a volume I'd even failed to locate on the internet) and was only deterred from making more by the prospect of domestic disharmony! - Henry Middleton 15.10.09.
A very pleasant place with decent coffee and lots of room. The CDs were selling very well on my visit although not so the books. All titles were neatly housed in their correct sections although there seemed to be nothing on sale which was pre-1980. Quite a few browsers who appeared attracted to the large Folio Society section. The town had a few tourists ambling around although my nephew, who lives there, said the real activity starts as soon as the pubs close. - Chris Harte 13.06.11.
Great location and an excellent selection of CDs and books, well-ordered and looked after and most at very tempting prices. - Brett Sidaway 30.07.11.
Interesting stock - reasonable prices. Worth a detour to see the range of s/h CDs and LPs - amazing variety of classical composers/performers. Surrounding countryside worth visiting, summer or winter. Town retains elements of 'knit your own brown rice' population. - Book Buyer 18.11.11.
Agreed all above, this has an excellent book selection and the largest classical CD selection methinks outside London. Brilliant. Both recent visits I had to put up with braying green wellie people so take earplugs! - Norman Davies 19.04.12.
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