Brilliant Bookshops: Alison’s Bookshop and Music Room
Tewkesbury is a Gloucestershire town rich in history. It grew following the construction of the magnificent Abbey in the twelfth century and was the location of one of the most significant battles of the Wars of the Roses.
The Abbey is a stunning building. Founded in 1087 by nobleman Robert FitzHamon, building of the present Abbey did not start until 1102. It is famous for the medieval stained glass in its seven quire windows, but also has some very beautiful more modern ones. George, Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV and Richard III, and his wife, Isabella Neville, are buried in a vault in the cathedral.
The town’s little museum is packed full of history, with exhibits about Tewkesbury’s explorer Raymond Priestley, who travelled with Captain Scott to the Antarctic and survived, a fascinating diorama of the Battle of Tewkesbury to consider and a unique fairground mode celebrating the town’s trading heritage. There is also plenty to discover about the town at the Heritage and Visitor Centre, housed in a beautifully-restored 17th century building.
Tewkesbury is also home to Alison’s Bookshop, a really lovely shop which has been here since 1999. The owner took two fairly run down shops and had to overcome some fairly substantial problems to create the place of book-ish joy which it is today. As I chatted to him, I learned that the shop had previously been a butchers, but had in the past been a bookshop as well!
The shop not only offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, but also a fantastic range of titles on an impressive range of subjects. One section leads to another- it’s a veritable TARDIS of a shop with seven rooms over two floors and things to grab interest in every direction!
Upstairs also boasts a section of sheet music and music accessories as well as some classical CDs. Gift stationary, jigsaws, cards, wrapping paper… all in addition to a fabulous selection of books!
Well worth going out of your way to visit!
Alison’s Books,
138-139 High St,
Tewkesbury, GL20 5JR