Socalist and Trade Union Bookshop

This was a socialist bookshop set up by Colin Faulkner. The managers were John Murphy and Sheila McGregor. The shop was firebombed in March 1981, when a man threw a gallon of petrol through the doorway, which he had blocked with a car, intending to make a quick escape.

The plan failed, but the shop was destroyed, with all wood, doors, windows, and even the plaster destroyed. The incident left the shop without a trading location, as the landlord refused to pay for the damages, and other landlords were reluctant to house premises that had been firebombed.

The shop had previously dealt with broken windows and threatening phone calls. The manager stressed the importance of having up-to-date insurance that reflects actual stock levels and ensuring alternative exits for the safety of workers and customers.

Sources:

Radical Bookshops Listing, Radical Bookshop History Project (November 2023) [Available online here, accessed 8.7.2025]

The Radical Bookseller, No.7, Jul/Aug 1981