A derelict barn in rolling North Herefordshire countryside has been brought back to life as a progressive book store in a £100,000 scheme run by two former HarperCollins executives.

Local civic dignitaries and residents were on hand to witness the official opening of Aardvark Books in Brampton Bryan, a tiny hamlet located midway between Leintwardine and Knighton – and close to the Welsh border.

This exciting enterprise has been made possible by a grant of nearly £23,000 from Advantage West Midlands’ Rural Regeneration Zone (RRZ).

The former cow barn, recently home to a rusty Morris Minor and dilapidated grain mill, now holds a huge collection of around 235,000 books, with around 25,000 titles currently on sale and the rest stocked in a next door 2000 sq ft warehouse.

Aardvark Books, which has five employees, was launched in 2004 by Sheridan Swinson and Edward Tobin, who have devoted their careers to publishing and are former colleagues at HarperCollins in London.

Mr Swinson said: “Aardvark has predominantly sold online to other booksellers and dealers. However, the hope was that in a new building with better parking it would be possible to attract more private customers to buy from us, and since the new store opened, that has certainly been the case as around 90 per cent of visitors to our shop buy books.”

Welcoming the move to new premises, Ray Flynn, Partnerships Team Leader for the RRZ, said: “The Redundant Building Grant scheme is helping bespoke businesses to base themselves in rural locations where they can avoid the congestion and other drawbacks of urban areas, yet still be fully effective by making the most of modern resources, such as the Internet.”

Dorothy Coleman, Redundant Building Grant Programme Manager at Herefordshire Council, who administer the scheme for the RRZ, added: “This business is typical of the type of enterprise that can benefit from funding. Many people will enjoy discovering this store, which has books appealing to all ages and tastes.”

Local Leominster MP and Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Bill Wiggin, attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark Aardvark’s opening, and told onlookers: “Encouraging businesses into this part of the country is a positive way forward. Thank you to all of you who have funded this business.”

Although originally distributors of remainder books, Aardvark has evolved to become a retailer of new titles, out of print books and rare books purchased at auction, from collectors or at estate sales.

The new 4000 sq ft business – called The Bookery – sells current paperbacks and hard backs, second hand and unusual titles as well as stationery, children’s books and puzzles.

It boasts a particularly wide selection of art and design books, along with other general lifestyle books – all for sale at 50 per cent of their recommended retail price.

Aardvark also sells online via a shop on Amazon, at specialist fairs – such as Ludlow Food Fair – and direct to the public from the shop. A new website is due to go live by the end of September.

Much of Brampton Bryan, including Aardvark’s venture in Manor Barn, has been owned by the Harley Estate since the early 14th century.

The Bookery also has plans to invite schools to hear special readings by authors, and host some Christmas shopping evenings.

The Bookery’s progress could also be helped along by some celebrity interest. The comedienne Jo Brand is said to be a frequent visitor to the area, while the scenic spot – not far from the ruins of Brampton Bryan Castle – is due to be visited soon by singer, actress and writer Marsha Hunt, who is the mother of Mick Jagger’s first child, Karis, and the inspiration behind the Rolling Stones’ hit, Brown Sugar.

While based in Dublin well-connected Mr Tobin rubbed shoulders with several celebrity authors including Tom Baker, Ian Botham, Jeffrey Archer and Maeve Binchy.

Aardvark’s recent switch from a site just 150 yards away, also on the Harley Estate, was aided by a local farmer using his machinery to transport books.

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