I LOVE SECONDHAND bookshops, and Alnwick in Northumberland has a remarkable example. Called Barter Books, this treasure house of used books is housed in a former railway station, the Terminus of the Alnwick branch line.

 

The station opened in 1887, and was closed in 1968. Stuart and Mary Manley established Barter Books within the old station in 1991. Its stock of books is amazingly large. The friendly people who work in the store are both knowledgeable and helpful. They assist customers looking for particular books. There is also a computerised catalogue that customers can use.

 

At first sight, the shop seems overwhelming. However, unlike many other secondhand bookshops, the Books at Barter are beautifully shelved in a well organised way.

 

Apart from the books, the former station has a superb refreshment area – the former station buffet, where everything from beverages to full meals are available.

 

Although trains neither arrive nor leave the former station, there are trains within it. These are model trains that run along tracks attached to the tops of some of the bookcases.

 

Finally, the name ‘Barter’. The store is happy to receive books brought in by customers. After assessing them – a process that takes about 10 minutes – the store offers a price for those volumes it is keen to buy. This payment is in the firm of a credit note, which can be used to pay for books sold at Barter.

 

Luckily, for an avid book buyer like me, Barter is not too close to home: it is 310 miles away from our dwelling.