Hi everyone

I've been inspired by Forum member diapason posting a notice about the huge range of second-hand sheet music at Bygone Times at Eccleston (thank you diapason). I've been there before but not for years, and it was before I took up music, so I'm planning to go there over the bank holiday to see what I can add to my collection. Do any other Forumites fancy meeting there?? (it's just off the M6, not far from Chorley) The web site is www.bygonetimes.co.uk if you haven't already been there.

If anyone can make it, could you send me a PM please. Hope to hear from some of you.

I'm very near there and have never heard of the shop. What day are you planning on visiting?

hillyb

Aaaawww!! now I'm envious

I'd love to go - haven't been for ages myself, but I'm teaching on Bank Holiday Monday

When you go to the main building, you go through the pay desk, walk past the cafe on your right (you can always return later for excellent home-made cake and coffee) and a few feet further on is a staircase which leads you up and over a walkway into another room. The music is somewhere down and aisle on the right hand side. It's now longer piled up on tables, but sort of stuffed into book case. Be prepared to get grubby hands.

Happy hunting!!

Is this place easy to find?

We're not far from there either and we always seem to be needing music for something or other.

Afraid it's a bit far for me...Lancs is a bit far from Wilts

I was thinking of Sunday, but I don't mind going on Monday if Sunday's not possible for other people. The only day I can't go is Saturday. I know I called it a shop but that's a bit of an understatement really - it's a vast old mill, full of memorabilia, antiques, heritage stuff etc. You could easily spend all day there, which is presumably why they charge an admission fee (adults £2.50, kids 75p, OAPs £1.50). Their web site gives a pretty good idea of what it's like. And it sounds as if it's easy to spend all day just on the sheet music section. If a few people want to go, I thought we could see which day was generally best and take it from there.





Another aaaawww! Sorry if you can't make it - would you be able to go on Sunday? (see previous reply I've just posted, I haven't yet learnt how to answer several posts at once).
(Edit: Oops, I seem to have done that, I just don't know how I did it!)

I see you live on the Fylde Coast - yes I know where that is! In a previous life I used to go to the Fleetwood folk festivals in September! I have happy memories of Fleetwood!




From what I can remember it's very easy. The directions on their website are:

From the M6 – JUNCTION 27 (Standish) turn right onto the B5250 which is adjacent to the BP Garage off the Dual Carriageway.
Follow the brown tourist signs on this road for about 3-4 miles into ECCLESTON. Pass speed camera (30mph) on left-hand side, 200 yards and our entrance is on the left-hand side opposite the Brown Cow Pub.

Hope this helps. I don't mind Sunday or Monday (see previous posts). What about you?

It sounds good. Sunday afternoon would be great for me.

hillyb

How can somebody who puts that it's 93,000 miles to the sun in their profile, possibly think that Wilts to Lancs is a long way???

Sunday afternoon it is then! Will suggest time and place by PM. Look forward to seeing you.

If it's Sunday, can you come too diapson? It's thanks to you we're going after all!

And from Gloucs sounds like fun though, what a great idea.

Hay on Wye would be another great place to arrange such an event, except that it's more difficult to get to...

Hope you manage to arrange something, sounds like it could be seriously damaging to your bank accounts - but in the best possible way

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Hay on Wye would be another great place to arrange such an event, except that it's more difficult to get to...
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I've been to Hay on Wye once and didn't know where to start cos there was so much. I've often wanted to go back cos I'm a sucker for books, but I'm always a bit overwhelmed at the thought of it so I put it off. Having a get-together there though would be the good excuse I need. And maybe there'd be somebody on the forums who could tell us which out of the hundreds of shops there are the best ones for sheet music???

Just got back from Eccleston. Nice to meet you hillyb!

If any other Forumites get the chance to go there, it's well worthwhile if you need sheet music. There are several bookcases full of sheet music, there must be thousands of pieces. We spent a couple of hours browsing, and only managed to get through a fraction of it.

There's also loads and loads of antiques, books, memorabilia etc to browse around, plus a cafe, in case you go with someone who doesn't share your desire for sheet music.

Thanks for recommending it, diapson.

I'm now going to get my clarinet out and start playing all my lovely new music!

Thanks Jazzfan,

It was great to meet you too. Had a look through the music tonight - and it's great. The place is well worth a vist.

hillyb

Bit late contributing to this thread,but I went there a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't get through all the music either...it really does need organising - no pun intended. Bought hardback copies of the 48 for £5.50...both vols... plus other things. I got the dealer's phone number - details can be given out where you go to pay - and haven't got round to giving them a ring.

There certainly isn't much room to spread the music out,is there? But it's great fun. Stall is situated in bygone 2. I didn't get round to going into b3 and there's certainly a lot of overpriced tat in there,but well worth a trip out.

If anyone fancies another meet sometime,let us know.