London's Oldest Esoteric Bookshop

Cecil Court, London, the home of several rare and antiquarian bookshops has seen the sad loss of one of its kind this week. Having traded continuously since 1897 Watkins, which sold books on the occult and witchcraft, closed its doors. Our sources say that the business is now in administration with a number of people losing their jobs. Hopefully the debt will be written off and it is hoped that the shop will be sold as a viable concern.

Trade has been hit hard in the antiquarian book trade by the recession and the recent bad weather. Cecil Court is owned by Lord Salisbury and although the shops all pay feasible rent it is well known that it is viewed as an ‘asset to London’ with the Victorian thoroughfare linking Charing cross Road and St. Martin’s Lane. The shops fronts, which have not been altered for over a 100 years are a tourist attraction.

Report from ibookcollector © which is published by Rivendale Press Ltd.