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Welcome to Abbey Secondhand Books in Paisley

 

The shop is at 2 Well St -  near the University and Paisley Museum and Library. About 400m west of both.  About 1km west of the station.  See map.

Abbey Books has 40,000 books (who's counting?) on a wide range of topics.  Almost too much history, poetry and fiction never mind art, music and drama.  And then there's the children's books!  Oh, and sheet music! 

If you are wondering if this is the Abbey Books that operated in Paisley for about 25 years in Johnston St,  Gordon St  and, for a short while, in Wellmeadow St., the answer is Yes but the owner is new.


Christmas Card

Someone who helps in the shop - and really should know better - made this Christmas card for me.  You have to imagine it as A5 size since that's what it is, I think.  It took me a wee while to realise it spells out Abbey Books!


Windows Phone App

If you have a Windows Phone why not search for the Abbey Books app.  It's in the Gaelic too!


Postcards

We sell a few old postcards in the shop - we classify them as either pre-written or unused. It is hit and miss which ones are on display at any time. 

We also have four new postcards, produced by one of our customers, of the old Renfrew Airport which closed in 1966.

The four show: a British Eagle Britannia lining up for departure, an airborne view of the old terminal building area, a British Eagle Viscount landing  (all from 1966), and two BEA Viscounts on a winters day in 1960.

The cards sell at £1 each, or 4 for £3.


Chess Books

We are still whittling down the 180 chess books we took in, about 20 of which were in German.  You can see a list of books on the page Chess Books.


Book Tokens

If you want to give a present of money but don't want the poor soul to buy what they want, why not give them an Abbey Books book token?  They're nice!  DJ made them!


Recipes

If you don't like normal books why not come just for a Sma' Shot Cottages recipe book.  39 recipes.  It's the thirty-nine steps of cookery.  Includes old favourites: shortbread, tablet, leek & potato soup, tattie scones, cottage pie. And new favourites: paella and mango surprise!   How can they do it for just £2.50?  Follow this link to read the article that was in the paper.

(All proceeds to the Old Paisley Society.  Honest!)


Writing

We are delighted that Oak Tree Arts are running a writers' club in the shop again this winter. It runs on Saturday mornings to suit children from 9 to 12 years. Follow this link for more details.


Special Books

The Books page has a wee few special but secondhand items.


New Books

For some reason we stock a few brand new books - some Cheap and some Not Cheap.  The Not Cheap tend to be of local interest.  The New Books page gives more details but these give a flavour:

Downfall: The Tommy Sheridan Story,  Alan McCombes, Birlinn, 2010.  Signed by the author.

Scots Baronial: Mansions & Castle Restorations in the West of Scotland, Michael C. Davis,  Spindrift Publishing,  1996

An Old Song and Edifying Letters of the Rutherford Family, Robert Louis Stevenson, 1982,  Archon Books (ISBN 0-208-01973-1) and Wilfion Books (ISBN 0-905075-12-9).

Kilmacolm: A History  David Roe.

Renfrewshire Local History Forum publications.

Barrhead books:
                  The Annals of Barrhead, Robert Murray (2007 reprint)
                   Mine Ain Grey Toon,  James McWhirter (1970)

Gaelic books for learners and luchd-fileanta.

Local books on Greenock, Gourock, Helensburgh, Kilmacolm and West Kilbride  published by Grian Press.

Titles by Grimsay Press including most of their Paisley Collection.

The Peter's Railway series by Christopher Vine.  

Books by John & Noreen Steele on HMS Dasher, Wee Cumbrae and Horse Island.

Jobs For The Boys:  The Story of a Family in Britain's Imperial Heyday,  Hew Stevenson, Dove Books, 2009   ISBN 978-1-902563-02-2  (£27)

A DVD:  The Legacy of the Glen Cinema    (£7.50)
On Hogmanay 1929 a fire in the Glen Cinema in Paisley killed 71 children. The short film “Legacy of the Glen Cinema” contains unseen footage from the 75th Anniversary Exhibition and lantern procession and interviews with the survivors of the tragedy.


Small Print

Free WiFi.

On a good day, you might get the offer of a free cup of coffee.   We would sell it if people would pay!

Opening hours:  Mon - Sat  10:15am - 5:15pm
We don't take holidays apart from Christmas Day & Boxing Day and New Year's Day and 2nd Jan.

Address: 2 Well St., Paisley,  PA1 2SP

Tel: 0141 887 7303 

Email: info@abbeybookspaisley.co.uk  

The proprietor is George Bell.  A nice wee Swiss girl wanted to see his photo. Thanks to Mr Ian Angus for providing one.  It must have been a happy day.

A bheil thu airson faighinn a-mach ma bhios a' Ghàidhlig aig Seòras coir?  Uill, bi.  Ach chan eil aon fhacal aig a' chorr.