Awarded 'Best Garden Centre in the UK' in 2018, 2021 & 2025 by the Garden Centre Association

Bridget Ashton  |  SKU: 30211582  |  Barcode: 30211582

Hay Before the Bookshops or the Beeman's Family

£1099
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17 in stock


Hay Before the Bookshops or the Beeman's Family by Bridget Ashton is a heartfelt memoir and historical reflection that explores life in Hay-on-Wye before it became famous for its bookshops and literary festival. Combining personal narrative with local history, it offers a vivid portrait of the town, its families, and its unique character.

Key Features

  • Memoir and local history of Hay-on-Wye before the book festival era

  • Focuses on the Beeman family and life in the town

  • Written by explorer, writer, and photographer Bridget Ashton

  • Engaging storytelling with personal anecdotes and historical context

  • Ideal for readers of memoir, rural history, and Welsh culture

Product Description

Hay Before the Bookshops or the Beeman's Family captures the charm and character of Hay-on-Wye as it existed before becoming the internationally renowned “town of books.” Drawing on her own experiences and the stories of local families, Bridget Ashton explores the rhythms of country life, childhood memories, and the cultural backdrop of mid-20th century Wales.

Inspired by classic writers such as Laurie Lee (Cider with Rosie) and Flora Thompson (Lark Rise to Candleford), Ashton blends nostalgia with exploration, describing life in the town and her own adventures as she gradually ventured beyond the familiar streets of Hay-on-Wye. The book offers an intimate look at the people, customs, and landscapes that shaped both the town and the author’s formative years. With 240 pages of engaging narrative, it appeals to fans of memoir, rural history, and Welsh heritage.

Specifications

  • Title: Hay Before the Bookshops or the Beeman's Family

  • Author: Bridget Ashton

  • Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers

  • Publication Date: 31 March 2022

  • Format: Paperback

  • Print Length: 240 pages

  • ISBN-10: 1398452068

  • ISBN-13: 978-1398452060

  • Item Weight: 345 g

  • Dimensions: 23.3 x 2.4 x 15.6 cm

  • Language: English

Usage Tips

  • Ideal for reading at home or as a companion on visits to Hay-on-Wye

  • Perfect for heritage enthusiasts, memoir readers, and fans of rural life

  • Makes a thoughtful gift for anyone interested in Welsh culture and history

Explore the history, families, and charm of Hay-on-Wye before the literary fame with Hay Before the Bookshops or the Beeman's Family.

About Us

We are a family run, independent Garden Centre, Farm Shop and Restaurant combined. We are proud to offer the very best gardening, home and outdoor living products alongside delicious, fresh, locally produced food and drink.

Awarded 'Best Garden Centre in the UK in 2018 & 2021 you can rest assured that we offer excellent products, plants and customer service.

Learn more about us and our story on the 'About Us' page.

Delivery

Collect your order in-store, have it delivered to your door, or choose a convenient InPost Locker!

We aim to dispatch orders as quickly as possible using trusted couriers.

Your Questions Answered...

What are the delivery options and prices?

We offer Standard (3-5 working days) and Express (1-2 working days) delivery for a small additional charge.

- Postable items (e.g., seed packets, gift cards) - £2.95 via Royal Mail.
- Smaller, lighter items - £4.95 – £6.95.
- Larger, heavier, and fragile items - £9.95 – £19.95.
- Pallet deliveries (e.g., furniture) - from £69.95 (see kerbside pallet delivery details below).

The exact delivery charge is calculated at checkout based on your selected items.

New! Deliver to InPost Locker

Instead of home delivery, choose to collect your parcel from an InPost Locker near you.

- Delivery rates: £3.95 or £4.95 depending on item size.
- How it works: Choose InPost after completing your order. You'll receive a notification when your parcel is ready to collect.
- Collection options: Scan the QR code or open the locker remotely via the InPost app. If collecting from a shop, show your QR code to the staff.
- Collection time: You have 3 days to pick up your parcel. InPost will send a reminder 24 hours before expiry.
- Tracking: Track your parcel via the InPost app or the tracking link in your confirmation email.

Can someone else pick up my parcel?

Yes! Share your QR code or collection code (sent via email) along with your mobile number, and they can collect it for you.

Do I need ID to collect from an InPost Locker?

No, just scan the QR code in the app or your email. For InPost Shop collections, show the QR code to the staff.

Any more questions?

Visit InPost’s [help page](#) for more details or check their blog for tips and updates.

How do I track my delivery?

Once your order is dispatched, you'll receive an email with tracking details.

Who delivers my order?

Depending on size and weight, orders are delivered by Royal Mail, Evri, or Parcelforce. Furniture and large items arrive via kerbside pallet delivery.

What is kerbside pallet delivery?

Large items like furniture are delivered on a pallet using a heavy goods vehicle. The pallet is placed at the nearest safe kerbside location. The driver cannot move it across uneven ground or remove the items from the pallet.

We can arrange a delivery date that suits you. If access for large vehicles is difficult, please let us know in advance.

What should I do if my order arrives damaged?

If your order is damaged in transit, email us a photo and your order number within 24 hours so we can resolve the issue.

Do you deliver to Northern Ireland?

Yes, though some larger or heavier items may incur a surcharge. Unfortunately, we cannot ship plants to Northern Ireland at this time.

Do any UK areas have a delivery surcharge?

Additional delivery charges may apply for:
- Channel Islands
- Northern Ireland
- Scottish Highlands & Islands
- Isle of Man & Isle of Wight
- Scilly Isles

What is the warranty on my purchase?

All products come with a manufacturer’s warranty (typically 12 months unless stated otherwise). Faulty items within the warranty period may be repaired or replaced subject to the manufacturer’s terms.

Still have questions?

Contact us via our enquiry form, call 01497 847055, or email shoponline@oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk.

Returns

How do I return an item?

If a purchase is no longer required you are able to return the goods within 28 days of delivery for a full refund in accordance with our refunds policy set out in Clause 10 of our Terms & Conditions. We will refund any money received from you using the same method originally used by you to pay for your purchase. Please make sure that you include the sales order or invoice with your return.

When returning items to us, please ensure that any and all original packaging, instructions, tags etc are included as supplied to you. We recommend using a recorded/insured service to return your order. The Old Railway Garden Centre cannot be held responsible for returned items lost or damaged in transit to us.