This company was originally established 14 years ago and was registered under 05871008 as its registration number. But some dent locals didnt want to lose their local festival and so decided to organise their own to fill the void. Stephen mcclarence pays a visit to a town that succesfully. Sedbergh and district history society has been collecting information and photographs relating to the local area to build an archive for local people and for research. It is a book town so lots of second hand books to browse. The little town taking a leaf out of hays book travel the guardian. Sedbergh, yorkshire travel guide and sedbergh information. It is a lovely little town in the centre of some excellent walks some easy and some challenging. Sedbergh book town is part of a network of famous european book towns and is a cumbria centre for book festivals and a host of specialist and independent book shops and booksellers. However sedbergh has a new status book town for england and as such has a growing number of book shops both new and second hand and is set to evolve over the coming months and years into a literary paradise.
Sedbergh is one of the yorkshire dales most popular destinations and has been called englands book town because of the number of book stores and publishing companies it is home to. A book town is a small rural town or village in which second. Lovers of specialist books will find ample book shops around the town to please from specialist lake district and yorkshire book shops to sports bookshops, specialist transport books and a fantastic choice of childrens books. The home page for sedbergh, englands booktown in cumbria and the yorkshire dales national park, 5 miles from the m6 and close to the lake district. This is the best shot i could get this afternoon from the top of castle haw, to compare with the older one which dates from around 1870. Sedbergh book town is currently closed as the present time falls outside of the opening hours below. The trees have grown and the town has changed quite a lot in 150 years. Sedbergh is a town and civil parish in south lakeland, cumbria, england. We found great results, but some are outside sedbergh. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected.
Sedbergh uk englands booktown in cumbria and the yorkshire. This particular head office of this company is situated in sedbergh. In 1961 he decided to fill the numerous empty buildings in his little home town with second hand books to sell. None of the stock in the shop is for sale on the internet, so it is a book browser s paradise. Despite having a population of less than 3,000 people, sedbergh has five book shops where you can pick up new and used novels to keep you occupied on your. Sedbergh book town has a wide range of shops and book cafes where you can hunt for your dream second hand books. The dovery in ingmire hall, sedbergh, cumbria book online. After the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak, the sedbergh booktown project was started in order to encourage an increase in the number of visitors. Sedbergh book town has a wide range of shops and book cafes where you can hunt. The dales high way highlights holiday begins beneath the walls of the impressive skipton castle. Sedbergh has the most books for sale per head of population anywhere in england. It is only six miles from the m6, 10 from kendal and sits just inside the yorkshire dales national park. The 10 best restaurants in sedbergh updated april 2020.
When foot and mouth devastated this area in 2001 a group of local people decided to take a step of faith and develop sedbergh into a book town. So we are moving to an absolutely stunning setting at buck bank farm under the howgill fells near sedbergh, englands book town organisers said. Sedbergh, pronounced sedber, is englands book town. Long lane, sedbergh, yorkshire dales national park la10 5ah england. Westwood books has a stock of over 70,000 titles antiquarian, secondhand, and new books mostly at reduced prices. As well as dedicated bookshops many other shops sell books alongside their normal stocks. This place is situated in cumbria county, north, england, united kingdom, its geographical coordinates are 54 19 0 north, 2 31 0 west and its original name with diacritics is sedbergh. Dales high way highlights contours walking holidays. From here the route heads over weets top to malhamdale, boasting dramatic limestone scenery. Hay became the worlds first book town in 1961, and about 30 other towns and villages, in europe and beyond, have followed suit. The little town taking a leaf out of hays book travel. He was a happy bridegroom that summer, and bringing his wife with him for the first time to sedbergh.
Officially hailed by great britain as the book town in 2006, sedbergh is home to a plethora of second hand book shops and world famous writers. A convivial and unpretentious book town, though it may be too lonely for some. Literary fans will love this small atmospheric town close to the lake district and yorkshire dales. The cottage sleeps 2 and is ideally located for local outdoor pursuits from its doorstep. As englands official book town, sedbergh is the norths answer to hayonwye.
The firm is known as the sedbergh book town literary trust. Lovers of specialist books will find ample book shops around the. Sedbergh and dent church of england are both good, according to ofsted. Sedbergh in cumbria has been designated englands first. We have visited westwood books on a number of occasions and it is a wonderful place to settle. Ingmire hall is a superb example of 15th century architecture on the fringes of the main town and is reached down a tree lined. Sedbergh simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Now dent was a place of importance, in those days, and looked down on even sedbergh as a mere village. George fox, founder of the quakers also has strong ties to the town and surrounding area.
Sedbergh can be accessed by road from the m6 by leaving at junction 37. As britains biggest literary festival kicks off in wales, stephen mcclarence visits sedbergh, which is busy reinventing itself as englands official. Jan 09, 2011 a film by ben nardone showing the sedbergh folkfest 2010. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. Sedbergh town had ever heard doctrine like this before. The project took off, book shops opened and festivals occurred annually. Historically part of the west riding of yorkshire, it lies about 10 miles 16 km east of kendal, 28 miles 45 km north of lancaster and about 10 miles 16 km north of kirkby lonsdale. Set in a stunning location near englands book town sedbergh folkfest is one of the countrys best folk festivals. A book town is a rural town or village in which secondhand and. Before long more book sellers were arriving, and more empty buildings were turned into book shops. May 09, 2018 many people are aware of hay on wye in wales and wigtown in scotland but i suspect fewer are aware of sedbergh which now promotes itself as englands book town. Sedbergh accommodation for cottages, hotels, bed and. Of course, with austerity, some shops have closed and businesses are facing ongoing challenges. Best dining in sedbergh, yorkshire dales national park.
Sedbergh, englands booktown in cumbria and the yorkshire dales national park, 5 miles from the m6 and close to the lake district. Every year, the city celebrates a month long book festival that draws book lovers from all over the region. Born out of a need to reinvigorate the local economy after the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak this book town. Sedbergh became england s official book town in 2003 following the work of a dedicated group of locals who formed the sedbergh literary trust. Next it visits the traditional dales town of settle, explores tranquil crummockdale and meanders through beautiful dentdale to sedbergh, englands book town. Apr 07, 2015 a bookshop owner has called for fellow booksellers to open up in sedbergh, cumbria, and join a booky coalition in one of englands three dedicated book towns. The town, which stands seven and a half miles 12km east of kendal, now lies in cumbria, but is designated as part of the yorkshire dales national park.
Westwood books sedbergh 2020 all you need to know before. Sedbergh in cumbria has been designated englands first official. May 16, 2009 the little town taking a leaf out of hays book as britains biggest literary festival kicks off in wales, stephen mcclarence visits sedbergh, which is busy reinventing itself as englands. Very early quaker meeting house with a wonderful sense of peace. Jun 29, 2006 tom holman sedbergh recently became the first town in england to be conferred with official book town status, and its startling success in regenerating the area means it might not be the. The company, sedbergh book town, was set up in 2003 to develop a community of businesses involved in selling, writing, publishing and designing books and other publications. Sedbergh dates from as early as saxon times however its now known chiefly as englands book town and has a charming bustling feel about it. In the book town of sedbergh on the edge of the yorkshire dales, this revamped coaching inn offers sleek rooms and a daring, hyperlocal approach to food tony naylor fri 24 aug 2018 01. The sedbergh book town literary trust in sedbergh, la10 5bl. As britains biggest literary festival kicks off in wales, stephen mcclarence visits sedbergh, which is busy reinventing itself as englands official book town. Most of sedberghs retail outlets, including a good selection of bookshops, are accommodated along its narrow main street.
This is a title awarded to a town whose varied enterprises are informally based around books and their production. Surrounded on all sides by the mighty howgills and rolling green countryside, it retains much of its oldworld charm and is perfect for exploring on foot. Tom holman sedbergh recently became the first town in england to be conferred with official book town status, and its startling success in regenerating the area means it might not be the. Historically the town was a thriving agricultural town and many local people made a living from the wool trade.
Situated in the unspoilt howgills and on the dales way national trail, readers cottage is a 200year old stone built former saddlers workshop in the village centre, close to pubs, restaurants, shops and all amenities. A chance to publicise your new books sedbergh englands book town mounts a festival of. The town is twinned with zrece in slovenia and the twinning process was featured on national tv. The 10 best hotels in sedbergh, cumbria cheap sedbergh hotels.
The characterful old market town of sedbergh, known as englands book town stands beneath the howgill fells on high ground above the meeting point of the lune and rawthey rivers. Sedbergh doesnt yet match hays scope, but it has plenty to offer. Tom holman sedbergh recently became the first town in england to be conferred with official book town status, and its startling. A festival for all ages to celebrate englands book town. Book town sedbergh seeks new recruits the bookseller. As well as a plentiful selection of local shops, cafes and pubs, sedbergh is also well known as being a centre for secondhand books with several bookshops and a substantial book centre the dales and lakes book centre housing further book dealers, sedbergh is englands official book town as with hay on wye in wales. You can even sit and read a book in our new book shelter. Tom holman sedbergh recently became the first town in england to be conferred with official book town status, and its startling success in regenerating the area means it.