Books & Ink Bookshop

Books & Ink Bookshop Independent bookshop in Winchcombe, Glos - old books, ephemera, prints, original art, vintage bears... and a few selected new books, cards & gifts too.

Open Thurs, Fri & Sun. Up-to-date hours on GoogleMaps. Book Nook holiday let above bookshop sleeps 3. Additional website: www.booksandink.co.uk

A signed and numbered wood engraving by contemporary artist Claire Dalby (1944-), captioned "From the Grove, Nettlecombe...
18/01/2026

A signed and numbered wood engraving by contemporary artist Claire Dalby (1944-), captioned "From the Grove, Nettlecombe" and dated 1982.

I love the rolling hills here, the details of the trees, grass and plough lines in the fields, all exquisitely captured in the smallest detail.

I have this and a number of other wood engravings currently for sale.

On my cataloguing desk this afternoon, a lovely 1956 Brer Rabbit Pop-up book with pop-ups all in great condition. Carefu...
15/01/2026

On my cataloguing desk this afternoon, a lovely 1956 Brer Rabbit Pop-up book with pop-ups all in great condition. Carefully looked after by its previous owners.

Original artist's proof engraving by Joan Hassall for The Heritage Press edition (1965) of The Poems of Robert Burns, il...
14/01/2026

Original artist's proof engraving by Joan Hassall for The Heritage Press edition (1965) of The Poems of Robert Burns, illustrating Burns's version of the pastoral poem "Ca' the yowes to the knowes" (Drive the ewes to the hills).

The original love poem is about a shepherdess herding her ewes who has a romantic encounter with a shepherd. Burns revised the poem but kept to the theme of love in the beautiful landscape .

Joan Hassall (1906-1988) illustrated many books throughout her career and you can clearly see the influence of the earlier wood engraver, Thomas Bewick, in her work. One of the earliest books she was commissioned to illustrate was Francis Brett Young's "Portrait of a Village" (1937). Other well-known works include the works of Jane Austen for the Folio Society in the 1950s & 60s, some Anthony Trollope works, also for the Folio Society, Eric Linklater's "Sealskin Trousers" (1947), Mary Webb's "Fifty-One Poems" (1946) and Our Village by Mary Russell Mitford (1946).

I have this engraving, as well as some others by Joan Hassall for sale.

"Informed by the results of decades of scientific studies, Art Cure explains why the arts - alongside diet, sleep, exerc...
13/01/2026

"Informed by the results of decades of scientific studies, Art Cure explains why the arts - alongside diet, sleep, exercise and social connections - are the forgotten fifth pillar of health, and gives you the tools to write your own 'arts prescription'."

I've just finished reading this excellent book by Daisy Fancourt and I would like to prescribe it to every central and local government policy maker and every health care policy maker as essential reading for 2026.

It is accessibly written (not cluttered with academic scientific terminology), backed by years of research (all referenced) and makes a call to arms to save funding for our creative industries - theatres, libraries, music teachers, museums, art teachers, concert venues, dance, ballet, art education funding, and so on, along with tips and strategies for increasing your own engagement with the arts, either for specific health benefits or for general wellbeing.

I received a copy in the post yesterday and literally couldn't put it down, finishing it today after work. You can order from me through BookshopOrg and I'll also have copies in the bookshop as soon as the wholesaler has it back in stock (temporarily out of stock).

I didn't get around to a New Year's Day post because.... well, long story. So instead I would like to wish all my booksh...
10/01/2026

I didn't get around to a New Year's Day post because.... well, long story. So instead I would like to wish all my bookshop customers past, present & future a very Happy New Lear!

(Courtesy of the Guinness Christmas booklet for 1957 illustrated by John Nash. I have two of these in stock right now).

10/01/2026

See my posts for a full write up about this iconic landmark

Out & About in the Cotswolds - Part 7One of the most recognisable sights of the north Cotswolds is Broadway Tower, with ...
10/01/2026

Out & About in the Cotswolds - Part 7

One of the most recognisable sights of the north Cotswolds is Broadway Tower, with its magnificent panoramic views across the Cotswolds and towards the Malvern Hills.

This striking folly is set atop Beacon Hill, on the Worcestershire - Gloucestershire border and accessed by road from the A44 via a turning at the top of Fish Hill or on foot via good footpaths (sturdy shoes or boots and moderate fitness required) from Broadway village.

The concept for the folly came from renowned landscape designer "Capability" Brown and the building designed by architect James Wyatt for the 6th Earl of Coventry (Viscount Deerhurst) who commissioned the building as a gift for his wife, Barbara. The folly was completed in 1798-99 and has had an interesting history.

Between 1822 - 1862, the tower was home to the private printing press, the Middle Hill Press, of Sir Thomas Phillipps, a book collector, antiquary and Baronet who inherited a significant estate and by all accounts spent beyond his means on books and rare manuscripts, amassing an important collection over his lifetime.

The Tower was then leased to Cormell Price, a public school headmaster, whose friends included a number of well-known Pre-Raphaelites. Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones were all known to holiday at the Tower around this time.

On the main footpath to the Tower from the parking area you will pass a small memorial for a Whitley bomber which crashed there during a training exercise on 2 June 1943. All lives were lost.

The hill is the second highest elevation in the Cotswolds (after Cleeve Hill near Winchcombe) and you will see a beacon stands off to one side of the tower.

The Tower also has some surprising Cold War history too and 15ft below ground you can visit a fully restored nuclear bunker (access is via a ladder).

The Tower and deer park is a super spot to take in the views, have a stroll or set off on a longer footpath walk. In fine weather you can take a picnic or if you prefer you can take advantage of the facilities on site - cafes, loos, and an interiors & clothing shop.

Parking and admission charges for visitor experiences apply. See website (link in comments below).

For more in my Out & About in the Cotswolds series, search the hashtag

I was cataloguing this book for the shelves just now and remembering what a brilliant read it is. It's now out-of-print ...
09/01/2026

I was cataloguing this book for the shelves just now and remembering what a brilliant read it is. It's now out-of-print sadly (this is a second hand paperback) but is one of the best stories for older children about post-War Britain (WW2), about film, photography and cinema, with some great friendships and a mystery too. It is Just Henry by Michelle Magorian (famous for Goodnight Mister Tom) and was 1st published in 2008. Highly recommend it, especially for 10/11+ ages.

Why is there always an errant bauble...?
09/01/2026

Why is there always an errant bauble...?

I was watching The Scarecrows' Wedding last night - this year's Julia Donaldson adaptation animation (and I loved it!). ...
28/12/2025

I was watching The Scarecrows' Wedding last night - this year's Julia Donaldson adaptation animation (and I loved it!). The scarecrows were more cheerful than this poor fella...

I have a new batch of 1950s/1960s Country Fair magazines in and am finding myself slightly distracted by the local artic...
28/12/2025

I have a new batch of 1950s/1960s Country Fair magazines in and am finding myself slightly distracted by the local articles written by A J Allen. I really need to stop leafing through them now.....

Address

6 North Street
Winchcombe
GL545LH

Website

https://linktr.ee/booksandink, https://ko-fi.com/booksandinkbookshop

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Our Story

After 14 years in Banbury, we have now moved to our new home in the Cotswolds and have opened our new shop in Winchcombe. We’re still stocking new and vintage books and we look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Winchcombe.