Book to the future

FIFTY YEARS ON, INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOP PLANS TO STAY PART OF VILLAGE LIFE

- By CONAILL CORNER

IN the heart of Crosby Village, one business has quietly weathered decades of change, development plans and digital disruption.

Pritchards, the independent bookshop that has been part of the village since 1975, is not just a place to buy a book - it's part of the community's soul.

"Pritchards has been in Crosby Village since 1975. It was started by Steve Pritchard," said Amy Wright, who now owns the shop with her husband Chris.

"We took over at the end of 2021."

Pritchards' story goes even further back. It originally opened in Ormskirk in 1973 before founder Steve Pritchard moved it to Crosby on the advice of a friend, drawn by the area's many schools.

Amy said: "Steve managed to weather the storms of when Kindles came out and when people could start discounting books.

"We've always had a lovely, loyal customer base.