About Us
Welcome to The Aldeburgh Bookshop
The Aldeburgh Bookshop is an independent bookshop on the High Street in Aldeburgh with a view of the North Sea. The shop has been in business for over seventy years, the last twenty years under the current ownership of John and Mary James. We stock a large range of new books on all subjects including a wide selection of local books and a fully-stocked children’s department. All of our staff are always on hand to help with recommendations.
We have an excellent selection of greetings cards for all occasions, as well as wooden jigsaw puzzles and many classic board games, such as Scrabble and Cluedo. At Christmas you can find beautiful wrapping paper, Charity Christmas cards and ribbon for all your presents. We accept National Book Tokens and we also have our own Bookshop Voucher.
We offer a second-hand book search service and we post books all over the world. We hope you enjoy your visit to our shop. John and Mary James, Harriet Bailey, Lucy Clare, Tom Wigan, Lily Clapshaw and Celandine Mitchell Cotts.
THE SITE OF THE BOOKSHOP
The site of the current bookshop has always had a literary connection. 42 High Street is thought to have been the site of the birthplace of one of Aldeburgh’s brightest literary stars, George Crabbe (1754-1832). This thatched cottage and much of the streets surrounding were washed away in the great storm of 1767. George Crabbe senior had been a teacher at a village school in Orford, but at this point he was a part-time tax collector for salt duties, a position his own father had held. Engravings in the Moot Hall Museum purport to show Crabbe Cottage.
In the early years of the 20th century, the shop was W. Hill, Drapers, the first (and only) department store in Aldeburgh. The shop (42 and 44 High Street) then passed to Watson & Allen, drapers, both married to daughters of W. Hill.
THE HISTORY OF THE BOOKSHOP
The shop has already passed its 70th anniversary.
1949 The bookshop was founded by Christopher Rowan-Robinson.
1953 It passed to John Whitmarsh.
1970 It was taken over by Mr and Mrs John Whateley-Smith
1974 It was jointly owned by Christopher and Jean Cowan and Frederick Edwards
1974 It was jointly owned by Christopher and Jean Cowan and Frederick Edwards
1983 Michael and Evelyn Catterick took over Freddie Edwards’ part share
1985 The Cattericks also took over the Cowans’ share, becoming the sole owners of the shop
2000 John and Mary James bought the business. The James bought the adjoining property (no. 44) in c. 2004 and re-combined the shops as they had originally been in 1929.
2006 The Aldeburgh Bookshop won the prestigious Nibbie (the Oscars of the booktrade) for Best Independent Bookshop
Ronald Blythe told us the story of coming in to the shop with E. M. Forster, who wanted to buy some ink. The then owner was in a hurry to catch the London train and shut them out of the shop. Not many bookshops can boast of having thrown E. M. Forster out.