| Besleys Books
4 Blyburgate Town
BECCLES Suffolk NR34 9TA map
tel: 01502 715762 fax: 01502 675649 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.
Traditional secondhand and antiquarian bookshop on two floors and in 4 rooms. Annual catalogues on gardening and natural history.
An excellent shop with a wide range of nice stock, including antiquarian. Easy to find in the centre of town. - Richard.
Closed when visited during alleged opening hours. - Chris Harte 24.02.10
I am very sorry Chris Harte found the shop apparently shut. Occasionally events conspire against us, but we try very hard to ensure we stick to our opening hours of 9.30am to 5pm, Monday through to Saturday. Having traded in Beccles for over 25 years we are well aware the the need reliably to be open during our advertised hours! - Besleys Books 11.03.10.
Lots of good stuff for this historian. Moreover, the owner helped me find a book I misplaced on my first visit. - Geoffrey Warner 15.12.11.
Chapel Books
The Street
Westleton
SAXMUNDHAM Suffolk IP17 3AA map
tel: 01728 648616
Open: 7 days 12.00 - 5.00.
Large general stock.
A wonderfully eccentric medium-sized bookshop with an excellent stock and a unique atmosphere. - Jonathan 06.08.09.
The building is a defunct chapel. Go inside and see piles of junk in all directions, festooned with books. The general appearance is of cheap junk. I've been here several times and never bought anything. Not WAD. - Roger Pearse 02.03.10.
Completely disagree with R. Pearse. This old chapel is a bit bizarre yes, but it is reasonably organised. WAD and worthy of exploration I obtained a couple of real wants here. NOTE the village of Westleton is between Aldeburgh and Southwold and is not in Saxmundham. - Norman Davies 16.07.10.
Churchgate Books
47 Churchgate Street
BURY ST EDMUNDS Suffolk IP33 1RG map
tel: 01284 704604 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.
Selling and buying quality out-of-print, secondhand and antiquarian books. Also offering booksearch and bookbinding service.
Small but good general stock in very good condition. Bookbinders at rear. Very customer (and child) friendly, actually has time to talk. Runs own Book fairs in Long Melford (www.longmelfordbookfairs.co.uk) which contrary to Driff's assertions actually look more than the exclusionary places they can sometimes seem for those, like me, not in the trade. - Jon Morgan 16.02.08.
Claude Cox Books
3 Silent Street
IPSWICH Suffolk IP1 1TF map
tel: 01473 254776
Open: Thursday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
General books and Private presses, antiquarian, natural history and local topography.
Feels rather intimidating to the casual visitor, I remember from my first visit. Maybe it's the headmaster-style desk...! Actually staff are friendly enough. Stock reasonable quality and quantity, books are clean, prices not excessive. In the centre of town and walkable from any town centre car park (e.g. Charles St). Doesn't stock rubbish. - Roger Pearse 27.06.08
A lovely old shop now run with care by the original owner's son. The selection is varied and of a good quality. Prices are remakably reasonable. While I was browsing a woman came in with some old leather bindings which were waxed for her free of charge. In my opinion that showed a touch of class. - Chris Harte 16.09.09
David Shacklock Books
27 High Street
DEBENHAM Suffolk IP14 6QN map
tel: 01728 861286 e-mail
Open: Tuesday 10.00 - 1.00 & 2.00 - 5.00, Friday 2.00 - 8.00, Saturday 10.00 - 4.00.
10 -12,000 general stock, antiquarian, hardback, paperback, ephemera; specialising in G.A Henty and Sabine Baring-Gould. We exhibit at bookfairs in Cambridge and Clare.
I walked into this delightful shop and was absolutely dumbfounded by what I saw on the shelves. It was so overwhelming with its breadth and quality that I stepped outside to compose myself. After viewing the stock, I purchased the most number of books I have ever done in one visit anywhere. Prices were easy on the cheque book. A charming owner of the old school. This shop must be on the visiting list of any serious collector. - Chris Harte 16.09.09
Harris and Harris Books
7b High Street
CLARE Suffolk CO10 8NY map
tel: 01787 277 267 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Two floors of new and old books on all subjects for readers of all ages. Large selection of motoring and motor racing books and pottery by Jean Knowles. Book orders and browsers welcome.
Pleasantly laid out shop, easily found on the High Street in Clare. Seems to have a good if small general stock, with strong emphasis on cars and motoring, but there is a little of everything else as well. - Richard B 27.10.11.
This is a real gem of a place, with some really high quality second hand books. The Anthony Price set (HB) really tempted me and the varied subject matter covered is really impressive for a shop combining new and used books. The atmosphere and layout is very pleasing and the owner offers top gift-wrap all purchases. It was clear that she is well patronised for new books by local customers as she rang three customers to tell them that their orders were in whilst I was there. The decor and the pottery really make it a pleasure to visit. A model for independent bookshops elsewhere and well worth supporting. There is also a large antique centre a few minutes walk away with a large selection of books on the second and attic floors. General stock and a fantastic selection of SOE related / Post war / Cold-war books at really stupid prices - a great disappointment. The centre is made up of separate units with a central till so little or no room for negotiation. Worth a visit and the Harris and Harris worth a detour. - Jon Morgan 03.03.12.
James Hayward
20 Thoroughfare
HALESWORTH Suffolk IP19 8AH map
tel: 01986 874447
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00, closed Thursday and for lunch.
Something for everybody, from paperbacks to antiquarian books.
John Crawford Books
Yoxford Antique Centre and Gardens
Askers Hill
YOXFORD Suffolk IP17 3JW map
tel: 01728 668844 e-mail
Open: Monday & Wednesday - Sunday 10.00 - 5.00
Wide ranging selection of second hand books. History, military history, East Anglian interest, Literature, biography and many other subjects. Always interested in purchasing good quality books. Also selling at Timbers Antiques, Lavenham and the Risby Barn near Bury St Edmunds.
2 - 3 times as many books as at Lavenham (qv) but still a smallish stall in an antiques centre. The literature section consists almost entirely of Folio editions. - Richard B 27.10.11.
I haven't visited the other branches, but I found interesting stuff in the history section in good condition and reasonably priced. - Geoffrey Warner 15.12.11.
John Crawford Books
The Risby Barn Antique Centre
Risby
BURY ST EDMUNDS Suffolk IP28 6QU map
tel: 01284 811126 e-mail
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 5.00.
A selection of reasonably priced, second hand books. Very much for the general reader but well worth a visit by the trade or collectors if passing. Always interested in purchasing a wide range of second hand and antiquarian books.
John Crawford Books
Timbers Antiques & Collectables Centre
High Street
LAVENHAM Suffolk CO10 9PT map
tel: 01787 247218 e-mail
Open: 7 days 10.00 - 5.00.
A selection of mostly second hand hardback books covering a range of subjects. Some antiquarian books on offer. Always interested in purchasing a wide range of second hand books.
A quite large and good selection here - particularly local interest, history, military, topographical, transport. Part of an excellent antiques centre well worth a visit. - Antiquarian 31.05.11.
Not by any stretch of the imagination a bookshop, just a few hundred books on folding shelves tucked into a small antiques centre. NWAD. - Richard B 27.10.11.
Olland Bookshop
22 Upper Olland Street
BUNGAY Suffolk NR35 1BH map
tel: 01986 894026 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 3.00.
Secondhand books on all subjects plus new books, especially children's books. Formerly Bardsley's Books, now re-opened under new management and with different stock.
Oxfam Books
35 The Thoroughfare
WOODBRIDGE Suffolk IP12 1AH map
tel: 01394 382265
A good selection of books, some of high quality, as you might expect in such a relatively affluent area. I made three or four trips there last week. - Michael Ross 24.08.11.
Oxfam Books and Music
77 St Johns Sreet
BURY ST EDMUNDS Suffolk IP33 1SQ map
tel: 01284 706613
Poor Richard's Books
17 Orwell Road
FELIXSTOWE Suffolk IP11 7EP map
tel: 01394 283138 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00, Sundays by appointment.
50000 + books covering most subjects.
Some good stuff at the front of the shop. Downstairs smells a bit of damp and seems mainly full of what seems to me like junk books; e.g. large selection of ex-school text books for Latin from a local school! Books grimy in some cases. Easily walkable from town centre car park, but in a side-street. - Roger Pearse 27.06.08.
Great shop on two floors. Upstairs there is a huge range of 1st editions and paperbacks. Downstairs mainly older & cheaper books. - Bee Clarke 29.07.09.
Every time I visit this shop I become more impressed at the strength and depth of their very impressive holdings. Owner was extremely helpful and guided me through the sections which were of interest. Well laid out and easy on the eye. Visit recommended. - Chris Harte 24.02.10.
This shop is a real find. 2 floors packed with interesting books and, for once, they are all carefully organised. Helpful owner, well WAD. - Norman Davies 16.07.10.
I wholeheartedly second the more recent comments on this bookshop. Whatever your interests, you would find something here. Felixstowe is a Mecca for anyone interested in secondhand books. - Geoffrey Warner 15.12.11.
Reed Books
30 Crabbe Street
ALDEBURGH Suffolk IP15 5BN map
Open: 7 days 10.30 - 4.30.
A wide range of general secondhand stock.
Second shop now open, close to original (but bigger.) Minus point; difficult to find open, opening times not displayed in either shop despite requests. Certainly not open seven days! - Glen Simpson 12.09.09.
This appears to have taken over Reed Books of 115 high Street. Basic and very expensive prices. NWAD. - Norman Davies 16.07.10.
The Idler
37 High Street
Hadleigh
IPSWICH Suffolk IP7 5AF map
tel: 01473 827752
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.
General stock and the fine, applied and performing arts, natural history local books and poetry.
The Open Road Bookshop
Park Street
STOKE BY NAYLAND Suffolk CO6 4SE map
tel: 07929 526 763 e-mail
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
A small second hand bookshop specialising in poetry and literature in the heart of Constable country. There are also shelves on nature, travel, music, art and sport as well as biography and some miscellaneous non-fiction.
Treasure Chest Books
61 Cobbold Road
FELIXSTOWE Suffolk IP11 7BH map
tel: 01394 270717
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.
A very large stock of some 45,000 books on most subjects, and particularly the arts, cinema, cookery, local history, photography and topography.
Huge stock all on one level, well organised and labelled, clean and fairly (but not cheaply) priced. Wide range of subjects. WAD. Located slap bang in the centre of town facing the triangular town square, and just across the road from a car park. - Roger Pearse 27.06.08
This is one of the best secondhand bookshops I have been to. Well organised & labelled & the shop seems to stretch back for miles! A lot of books, especially the collectable ones, have dustwrapper protection & new stock appears constantly. Have to disagree with Roger Pearse regarding prices - I think they are very reasonable. - Bee Clarke 29.07.09.
Quantity does not necessarily equal quality. Although this shop has a huge number of books on shelves which go deep into the back of the premises, the quality stock is to be found on the front shelves. Local titles are good but the majority of the rest is really just for the reader. - Chris Harte 24.02.10.
This has the most extensive collection of railway books at very reasonable prices I have seen for years. Genuinely WAD for other subjects too; the quality is in the specialist subjects as well as older books in the front. - Norman Davies 16.07.10.
A bit like Aladdin's cave, there is a lot more in this bookshop than might seem to be the case at first sight: room after room with books on most subjects, most of which are reasonably priced. Together with Poor Richard's, this makes Felixstowe a must for any secondhand book lover. - Geoffrey Warner 15.12.11.
V.S Bell
19 Market Hill
Framlingham
WOODBRIDGE Suffolk IP13 9BB map
tel: 01728 723046
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00, closed Wednesday pm and for lunch.
General secondhand books as well as crime and detective fiction.
A lovely little shop, full of good stuff, with a knowledgeable and friendly owner. A little disorganised, but extremely rewarding to explore. - Jonathan 06.08.09.
Agree with Jonathan: a friendly small but closely packed shop with some unusual worthwhile titles. - Norman Davies 16.07.10.
Agree entirely with Jonathan and Norman Davies. Although principally a historian, I have interests across the humanities and social sciences and found items of interest here at a reasonable price. - Geoffrey Warner 15.12.11.
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