Welcome to a new mini series here on the Pages of the Hallows blog!
If you've read more that what, two, of our posts, it'll be common knowledge to you that we primarily buy books pre-loved at charity shops. Budget book buyers for sure. However, we do also love a good second hand book store...ones with a bit of history or uniqueness to them to be specific. We decided that it'd be cool to show you around a few stores, museums and other book/writer related places we either frequent or visit for the first time.
I'll be pretty surprised if any UK book enthusiasts haven't heard of Barter Books if I'm honest. One of the largest second hand book stores in the UK, Barter Books is pretty famous! It's situated in the old Alnwick railway station which was designed by William Bell and opened in 1887 closing in 1968. It's history as a station is interesting on it's own, but we're here to talk books!
Barter Books opened it's doors in 1991 and is named thusly as it was initially meant for customers to shop via the trade/barter system.
Above you'll see images taken from the outside, car park and front entrance. As you go in the front door you'll find a cosy and deceiving little room with lantern like lightshades, a real log fire and sofas to sit and enjoy your new purchase on or chat to other visitors. This room used to be the station parcel's room! To your right as you come through the door is the original barred window through which passengers would purchase tickets and now looks onto the children's book room - the original entrance.
Walking through the next doorway to the middle room the vastness of this store starts to become apparent, still concealing it's main event just yet, with higher ceilings, light spilling through the roof and a mini maze of book shelves topped by the super cool working model railway. The till is situated here and the room leads onto the café (old waiting room), children's room and the biggest room which began life as the outgoing platform.
The middle room is also home to a 38 x 16 foot mural showing off some famous writers. It was painted by Peter Dodd a local artist and took him two years to paint.
Saying 'there is so much to look at!' when you're in a book store is kind of a 'Duh!' statement, but seriously, after visiting Barter Books at least half a dozen times I still spot new things - like the water fountain in the images below. Yes, it works!
Something else that's interesting to know is to do with the well known 'Keep Calm and Carry On' posters. Used during the war to raise spirits it wasn't until an original 1939 copy was found in a box at the book store that the iconic phenomena took off. Take a look at this video to learn more.
Lastly I'll quickly mention the mural in this final image. It was commissioned in 2005 as a reminder to all who visit that the railway system, that has spanned the world, came to being right here in the North East. It features coats of arms representing the North Eastern Railway company, the London and North Eastern Railway company and British Railways, as well as the names of all the men and women who were known to have worked at the station through it's working duration with the Stationmasters being highlighted in red. As someone who has a huge interest in trains, particular the history of the railway, I find this really lovely.
These are just a few images we captured on our last visit here in early October and can never convey the sheer impact and ambiance the building has. Visit Barter Books' website here to learn more and be sure to pop in for an (impossible) quick visit if you're up in our neck of the woods!
Thanks for reading! Let us know what you think of this series idea and tell us about interesting stores near you in the comments below.
💀 Mr & Mrs Hallow 💀
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