Newcastle bookshops: Thornes

There were also several others which disappeared long before I thought of pointing my Brownie at them. I bought my three-volume Lord of the Rings in the closing down sale of Dring's in Savile Row. The SPCK round the corner in Ridley Place was more than just a church supplier. The rather grand Mawson, Swan and Morgan at the Monument had a large book department in the basement. T G Allan across the road in Blackett Street was a large newsagent and bookseller which became a John Menzies before it shut. In Grainger Street the oddly-named North of England School Furnishing was a long, narrow shop selling books and stationery. Thorne's had several shops on Percy Street serving the university and was probably the town's main bookshop before the chains arrived.

For what is left see: www.inprint.co.uk/thebookguide/shops/north_east/tyne_&_wear.shtml