Camilla’s Bookshop is a very large secondhand & antiquarian bookshop located 5 mins from Eastbourne railway station and next door to the town’s police station, in excess of 1 million books in stock with a proportion listed on abebooks.com.
Camilla’s Bookshop is like no other. It’s a labyrinth of literature, a tease of textbooks, a nub of (k)nowledge … you get the picture! But don’t just take my word for it – if you haven’t visited yet, you haven’t lived!
If you’re a bit of a bookworm, then this shop will be right up your alley.
“Eastbourne’s Saving Grace”, as described by The Spectator, specialise in Armed Services – Transport – Travel Literature – History – Music – Art – Religion – Sport – Modern First Editions – Poetry & Literature, as well as stocking all the favourites, from novels, children’s books, maps, signed copies, encyclopedias … the list goes on.
Even if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you’re sure to find something that will interest you. The gem is finding one of the many out of print books.
The single most remarkable thing about the bookshop has to be the way in which it’s presented. Although one may be put off by the initial impression, curiosity will soon kick in. The wonderment of how many books can be stored in such a small space and how one can ever find anything will also cross your mind. But once you’re in the midst of it, you’ll become completely transfixed on the range titles and some great old and thought long-forgotten books.
Camilla's Bookshop | Internal picture of bookshelves and stairs
Books are shelved in categories, but each shelf is in no particular order.
Shelves are stuffed to the max.
Books are piled up next to stuffed shelves.
Books are stuffed full from floor to ceiling.
Books are shelved on the stairs.
Three floors of this wonderous disorder.
For first time visitors, Camilla’s Bookshop, with its cavernous three floors stuffed to bursting with quality, cheap second-hand classics in every area, will leave you totally amazed, baffled and totally inspired and stimulated. Even if you’re not too into books, I defy you to not be in awe!
The Bookshop’s History: Camilla Francombe and Stuart Broad opened their first secondhand bookshop in 1976 at the Seven Dials in Brighton.
The shop was small & shaped like a piece of cheese but with shelves 20 ft high.
It was, however, a start and from there with one of those strokes of luck that appear once in a lifetime, they purchased the freehold of 88 St James’s St for £7000!
This shop, now long gone, was 5 stories high, but only 12 ft wide! Built in 1830 & in poor physical repair the shop was named ‘Picture Books’ as illustrated books were the preferred stock.
This shop later became ‘Tall Stories’, when a new owner took over.
In 1984 the partners took on a shop in Worthing called ‘The Steyne Bookshop’ near the Chatsworth Hotel. This too was multi-storied, but suffered from a very secondary site.
The next year came a much better position in Eastbourne, where they opened Camilla’s Bookshop still trading from its position next to the Police Station in Grove Rd.
Running 3 shops was something of a nightmare and so reluctantly they sold the Brighton & Worthing sites to concentrate on Eastbourne. This most successful and popular shop is open daily except Sundays.
Source: Camilla’s Bookshop | Blogspot – Well worth visiting for some more photos of the extraordinary internal photos of the bookshop.
Uniquely, Camilla firmly believes that customers should be able to shop even when they’re closed. Under the arches to the side of the shop, books adorn the entire wall. Select your book and simply pay through the letterbox!
Camilla's Bookshop, 57 Grove Road, Eastbourne
Perhaps a word of warning: You will lose track of all time in this bookshop, losing perhaps hours of your life, completely captivated by studying countless spines and pages.
Some books, especially the older ones will come with a high price tag, and higher than that originally purchased for.
Camilla’s Bookshop also buys books, so if you have a loft full of old books and want others to enjoy, feel free to totter down to the bookshop and see if Camilla is interested.
Located conveniently in the town, it’s a doddle to get to.
Join Camilla’s Bookshop group on Facebook
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Karen Hampson says:
“This amazing secondhand bookshop greets you with books piled all over the floor, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. It is a wonderful labyrinthine cavern to lose yourself in for hours on its three floors (don’t miss the basement). Books on all topics imaginable and staff who seem to know where every one is. When I’m having a bad day I like to go in there for a browse, knowing I won’t be able to leave without buying some gem or other. I have been known to compete with friends over who will come out with a famous pink carrier bag. Not usually a problem to fill one!”
Source: guardian.co.uk | Bookshops in the south-east
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