About Yew and Blackthorn Books

Where the old stories live

Yew and Blackthorn Books is a carefully curated independent bookshop for readers drawn to the edges — to folklore and fairy tale, traditional crafts and slow living, women's histories and the stories that have always been told in the margins.

We believe books have the power to reconnect us with older ways of knowing. Whether it's a field guide to British folk customs, a history of herbalism and wise women, or a collection of regional fairy tales, every title in this shop has been chosen because it carries something worth preserving.

Why these books?

The themes at the heart of this shop — folklore, traditional crafts, history, feminism and storytelling — aren't separate shelves. They are the same conversation, running through centuries. The hedgerow and the hearth, the oral tradition and the written record, the women whose knowledge was dismissed and is now being reclaimed. We stock books that trace those threads.

These are books for people who find magic in the mundane, history in the landscape, and community in shared stories. If you've ever felt more at home in a myth than in the present moment, you're in the right place.

The slow living spirit

Yew and Blackthorn grew out of a love of slow, intentional living — the kind documented in the Slow Living Diaries blog and explored over on our YouTube channel. The shop is an extension of that: a place to find books that nourish rather than rush, that invite you to linger rather than scroll.

Every recommendation here comes from genuine reading and genuine enthusiasm. There are no algorithms behind this curation — just one reader's deep love for these subjects and a conviction that the right book, at the right time, changes things.

Come and explore

Browse the shelves, follow along on YouTube, or visit the Slow Living Diaries for reading lists, craft projects and seasonal musings. We're glad you found us.