Orwell Books

Orwell Books 44 Upper Orwell Street, Ipswich
Run by: Tony Reeder
1967-1973 (premises sold that year)
Tony writes: "Orwell Books sold Rolling Stone, Oz & International Times, as well as advertising a community jumble sale. The shop focused on new books of modern literature, history, politics etc. and also had a 'help yourself' free books shelf out the back where a wide range of posters was for sale, along with a display that used shielded UV light to increase impact. Much of one wall was covered with a rack in which back issues of Anarchy were displayed. At the time of the photo the first floor street front room was used by a friend who worked as a picture restorer, specialising in 18th century portraiture. His coffee mug is on the window sill - as the window is open it must either have been a warm day or the smell of thinners was too strong, or both!

"I think it was a neat little shop. I fitted it out with the help of friends. It was converted from a motorcycle spares and repairs business - the street level floor oozed engine oil when I signed up the tenancy. One or two people let me know that they have good memories of it and that it was 'amazing' to have such a 'refuge' in Ipswich of all places! At the time there was engagement in local anti-racism activities as well as anti-war - which had a local focus, too, given that East Anglia was covered in USAF and RAF bases at the time and was a prime nuclear target area. Service personnel were among the clientele. For myself, I was pretty busy just keeping the shop open and running successfully."

Source:

Radical Bookshops Listing, Radical Bookshop History Project (November 2023) [Available online here, accessed 3.7.2025]

Direct quote from the owner Tony Reeder.

Listed in the Big Red Diary for 1974 and 1975, though quite possibly with out of date information.