Brilliant Bookshops: Watchet Community Bookshop

Watchet is one of Somerset’s coastal towns, its port highly valued by Alfred the Great when defending the coast against the Vikings. The Market House Museum, located on the ground floor of Watchet’s former Market House, is fascinating. Under an open staircase to the upper floor at the west end of the building, you can still see the Court Leet lock-up and at the other end, you can enter the museum which is free to enter.

The Esplanade is a lovely place to wander along, enjoying views of the sea and you can find two statues, one commemorating ‘Yankee Jack’, John Short, who has gained fame as the ‘father’ of sea shanties and the Ancient Mariner, the main character from the poem by the romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, whose visit to Watchet inspired the work.

Also along the Esplanade, situated just behind the statue of Yankee Jack, you can find the Watchet Community Bookshop. This charity bookshop was opened in 2009 and is staffed by volunteers. Spread across two rooms is a wonderful selection of second hand books in very good condition.

The shop offers both non-fiction and fiction titles for adults and children, all well organised across the two rooms. There is a pleasant, welcoming atmosphere and plenty of bargains to be found! Well worth a visit!

Harbour Community Bookshop

7 The Esplanade

Watchet

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