Inside The Bookshop, Wigtown
If you’ve read Shaun Bythell’s Confessions of a Bookseller, then you’ll know that The Bookshop is something of a book-shaped celebrity. Nestled in the heart of Scotland’s National Book Town, the shop has around 100,000 books spread across a mile of shelving, making it the country’s largest second hand bookshop. It’s also Wigtown’s oldest bookshop, and is run by author Shaun Bythell who has written two books about his time as a bookseller.
Inside the shop there are nine separate rooms for you to explore, lined with books on a range of topics. Look to your right upon entering the shop and you’ll see shelves of gorgeous penguin classics, and to the left is their antiquarian collection. Head on deeper into the shop and you’ll find a cosy children’s section, a smattering of sofas, and plenty of stepladders to help you reach those high up tomes. If there’s a subject that you’re interested in then you bet there will be a book here for you - just ask one of the booksellers for a hand. But best of all, don’t forget to say hello to Captain, the bookshop’s resident cat; he’s gorgeous and super friendly!
I had so much fun wandering around this bookshop, perusing the shelves and exploring its warren like rooms. It was especially magical to visit after reading one of Shaun’s books, which you can also purchase in the shop.
I asked Shaun a few rapid fire questions to find out a little bit more about The Bookshop, and what makes it so special…
What's the best thing about your bookshop?
That's a difficult thing to answer. The building is beautiful, and I hope I have interesting stock. There are lots of hidden nooks and crannies, and a roaring fire in winter. I think the whole experience is what makes it special.
Why did you decide to become a bookseller?
In 2001, aged 30, I was doing unfulfilling temping jobs and starting to feel that my life wasn't really going anywhere, when a friend who had a bookshop told me that he was retiring, and asked me if I'd like to take over his shop. So it wasn't so much a decision, as an accident that I became a bookseller.
What's the most unique/interesting book that you've bought for the shop?
At the moment I have in stock a book which is known as a 'hairy binding' where the cow's hair hasn't been scraped off in the leather curing process. It was published in Argentina, and it's the only one I've ever seen in 20 years of selling books.
How to get there
The Bookshop is based in Wigtown, down in the south west of Scotland. It’s most easily accessed by car, although you can also get there by catching the train to Dumfries and continuing on by bus. Once you arrive, you can find The Bookshop down Main Street. Look out for it’s spiralling book pillars - you won’t miss it.
If you’re unable to visit, you can support the bookshop by ordering online through their website, here.
To find out more about the bookshops in Wigtown, check out my previous blog post!
Further reading
Introducing GG's Yard, the Perfect Bookish Retreat in the South of Scotland