House of Stories: A New Independent Bookshop Opens on Newgate Street

Morpeth has a new independent bookshop. House of Stories has opened its doors at 38 Newgate Street, in the heart of the town centre, and it is exactly the kind of shop a market town like Morpeth is better off for having. It is family-run, it sells both new and pre-loved books, and it pours takeaway coffee for anyone who wants to browse a little longer.

The unit at 38 Newgate Street last traded as a barber's, so this is a welcome change of use on a stretch of the high street that already leans towards independents rather than chains. It sits within easy reach of the cafes, bakeries and charity shops that give Newgate Street its character, and adds something the town has been short of since dedicated booksellers thinned out across the region.

Who is behind it

House of Stories is the next step for James Davies, better known locally as "The Book Gadgie". As reported by the Northumberland Gazette, Davies has run a book stall at Tynemouth Market every Sunday for the past four years, and the new Morpeth premises turns that weekend trade into a permanent home. The shop describes itself as "a place where people can browse, discover new stories, enjoy recommendations and connect with a growing community of book lovers".

What is on the shelves

The stock is deliberately broad. Alongside the newest releases you will find pre-loved novels and non-fiction covering everything from war history and music to motorsport, plus a good run of autobiographies. There is also a small selection of antiquarian books for collectors, the oldest dating back to 1713. It is the sort of mix that rewards a slow browse rather than a quick in-and-out, and the takeaway coffee is clearly meant to encourage exactly that.

Once the family has settled in, they plan to build on the community side of things with special events such as author talks and workshops. That fits the wider mood on the high street, where the recent "Keeping the Heart in Morpeth" campaign has been rallying independents to give locals reasons to shop close to home rather than driving to Newcastle or the retail parks.

When you can visit

House of Stories is open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm. Davies plans to keep the Sunday stall at Tynemouth Market running for now, so the two can happily coexist.

Best for: Browsing a broad, well-chosen mix of new, second-hand and antiquarian books with a coffee in hand, right in the town centre.

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