Hatchards claims to be the oldest bookshop in the United Kingdom, founded on Piccadilly in 1797 by John Hatchard. After one move, it has been at the same location on Piccadilly next to Fortnum & Mason since 1801, and the two stores are also neighbours in St. Pancras railway station as of 2014. It has a reputation for attracting high-profile authors and holds three Royal Warrants granted by the Queen, the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rule ...

and the Duke of Edinburgh respectively.

History

The oldest bookshop in the United Kingdom, Hatchards was founded at 173

Piccadilly Piccadilly () is a road in the City of Westminster, London, to the south of Mayfair, between Hyde Park Corner in the west and Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is part of the A4 road that connects central London to Hammersmith, Earl's Cou ...

, London, by John Hatchard in 1797. It moved within Piccadilly in 1801, to No.189–190; the site of the first shop was cleared in 1810 for the Egyptian Hall to be built. The second shop had a numbering change to 187, in 1820. It still trades today from the same address, and Hatchard's portrait can be seen on the staircase of the shop. It was founded with a collection of merchandise bought from Simon Vandenbergh, a bookseller of the 18th century. In 1939 Hatchards was acquired for £6,000 by convicted fraudster Clarence Hatry, on his release from prison. He turned the ailing business around, and in 1946 he also acquired the T. Werner Laurie Ltd. publishing firm.John Stepak
"Did one man trigger the Great Depression?"
''Money Week'', 17 November 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2019. Hatchards was acquired by

William Collins, Sons William Collins, Sons (often referred to as Collins) was a Scottish printing and publishing company founded by a Presbyterian schoolmaster, William Collins, in Glasgow in 1819, in partnership with Charles Chalmers, the younger brother of Thom ...

in 1956. In the 1980s it expanded the number of its retail outlets, opening branches across the UK. It was bought by Pentos in 1990, and Pentos was later acquired by Waterstone's who rebranded all but the flagship store.

Operations

It has a reputation for attracting high-profile authors and holds three

Royal Warrant A royal warrant is a document issued by a monarch which confers rights or privileges on the recipient, or has the effect of law. Royal warrant may refer to: * Royal warrant of appointment, warrant to tradespeople who supply goods or services to a r ...

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

’s favourite bookshop, the writer signed his books sitting at the ground floor main table – today known as Oscar's table. Hatchards opened a new store in St Pancras railway station in 2014. The 2,000 sq ft store, opened at the beginning of August, and was located next door to a new (2013) branch of Fortnum and Mason, continuing a relationship that goes back over two centuries. In August 2019 this location re-opened in a larger space within the station.

Gallery

File:Hatchards 20130408 093.jpg, Hatchards Royal Warrant File:Hatchards St Pancras.jpg, Hatchards at St Pancras railway station

References

External links

* {{Coord, 51.5084, -0.1380, display=title Bookshops in London Retail companies established in 1797 Buildings and structures in the City of Westminster British Royal Warrant holders Tourist attractions in the City of Westminster Piccadilly Companies based in the City of Westminster British companies established in 1797 Bookstores established in the 18th century

History

Operations

Gallery

References

Further reading

External links