Brilliant Bookshops: Folde

Shaftsbury is a lovely little town with much to offer. Here, the ruins of its Abbey can be found, set in a beautifully tranquil garden. Founded in 888AD by King Alfred the Great, it was the first great abbey just for women and was the last abbey to be destroyed by Henry VIII in 1539. The body of St Edward the Martyr, a boy king murdered possibly on the orders of his stepmother at Corfe Castle, was moved and reburied here in in 979 where it became an object of pilgrimage.

Shaftsbury is also home to Gold Hill, a very steep, very picturesque street, which will always be associated with Hovis bread after the 1970s advert featuring a boy pushing his bike up the hill to deliver a loaf of bread before freewheeling back down to the baker’s shop.

At the top of Gold Hill is Folde, a wonderful bookshop with nature and well-being at its heart. It is a beautiful space, using calming colours and natural materials to create a welcoming atmosphere. The shop focuses on classic and contemporary nature writing, Dorset art and traditional craft.

The selection of books on offer is incredible! There is a sense that each title has been carefully chosen to have its place here. Books about well-being and walking sit alongside books on foraging and those about the locality. A lovely range for children is also on offer, with low browser boxes perfect for exploring.

The shop also offers a wonderful array of artwork and crafts from makers living in the locality. A lovely selection of jewellery, art work, cards, ceramics and bags is tastefully scattered throughout the shop- a wealth of temptation!

An essential place to visit if you are in Shaftsbury- and one which you will find yourself returning to!

Folde

1 Gold Hill House
21 High Street
Shaftesbury
SP7 8JE