Our History

The Limited

Built in 1886, by Robert Williams and Sons Ltd, 44 Lion Street was the largest commercial building and first Limited Company in the market town of Hay on Wye.

Carrying a full range of agricultural necessities, no trip to town on market day was complete without a visit to 44 Lion Street to stock up on seeds and plows, shears and fencing. There was even an on-site forge for metal repairs.

Later, having been acquired by Peter Likes, the business expanded to include furniture and homewares.

King of Hay

1938 – 2019

In 1982, Richard Booth was looking to consolidate his secondhand book empire in Hay, having run out of available smaller storefronts to house his burgeoning inventory.

“Miles” of bookshelves were built and a legend was born. Richard proclaimed (he liked a proclamation) that his bookshop was the largest in the world which might even have been true.

Richard sold his business to Paul Greatbatch and Elizabeth Haycox in 2007.

44 Lion Street Today

2020 – Present

Richard Booth’s Bookshop honours its past by the careful conservation of this glorious building while we look to the future of bookselling which now includes secondhand and new books sharing shelfspace, a curated collection of craft materials and art supplies, greeting cards and gifts.

Just around the corner, we have turned an old warehouse space (where all those bookshelves were built) into a small independent cinema showing the best of current and classic films.

It is still true today that no trip to Hay on market day is complete without a visit to 44 Lion Street.