Internet search engines are amazing tools for helping find specialist items. We stumbled on this antiquarian bookseller in Hay-On-Wye by `Googling`.
Hay-On-Wye is 2 miles from the A438 which runs between Hereford and Brecon. You can park in the main council car park and the shop is just about 10 minutes walk away.
Radnor House is a light grey fronted house with a decorative front porch and a welcoming aura. As you approach the house the front garden is well looked after.
Arden`s specialise in new, scarce and out of print books on Botany, Natural History and Gardening.
Many years ago my Uncle owned an Apiary and survived on the small amount of money he made from producing honey. We have been spending some time researching beekeeping, a skill of yesteryear.
Arden`s website had 350 new, second hand and antiquarian bee books. We have spent time each evening looking at the selection of books offered on EBay and other auction sites and after numerous price comparisons decided it was time we paid a visit to Arden’s bookshop.
Modern beekeeping held little interest for us, we wanted to explore the ancient art, therefore we wanted to buy a book focusing on beekeeping in the 19th century.
Antiquarian bookshops always have a musty aroma and a sense of stillness about them and Arden`s was no different.
We spent time looking closely at the vast choice in gardening section, design and landscape gardening is something we are both very interested in. The history of gardening was featured in some books and being members of The National Trust we had visited some of the famous gardens they were referring to. The work of famous gardeners like Capability Brown, books on vegetable gardening, organic gardening and gardening plants that you should consider investing in.
The botany section covered the orchid, fern growing, ecology and habitat. Rare fungi that we had never seen before, tree planting and butterfly books. Zoology and bird watching.
We spent so much time just drinking in the whole experience and eventually chose a 19th century beekeeping book with colour plates.
The visit was fascinating and exciting, a learning journey.
We came out of the shop feeling like we had won the lottery, so thrilled with our purchase and im sure that it wont be long before we make a return visit.

Rating: 10