A Bookshop in Chelsea

In 1972 Leo and Philippa Bernard bought Chelsea Rare Books, a small antiquarian bookshop in the King’s Road, Chelsea, advertised for sale in The Times. The Bernards had no previous experience of bookselling, but Chelsea in the 1970s was a lively place. The stock they acquired with the shop included everything from field sports to embroidery, children’s books, art and modern first editions. In the basement they launched The Beaufort Gallery selling prints and paintings. The young women who joined them as bookselling assistants became friends, often introducing a successor before leaving to marry, have children or move to the country. Philippa Bernard makes light of the hard work she and Leo shared, not to mention the heavy work, handling the books

Philippa Bernard, one of the first students awarded an Honours Degree by the Open University, lectures on historical subjects for the National Trust, The University of the Third Age, and other groups. When Chelsea Rare Books closed, she turned to writing. Her books include: Antiquarian Books - A Companion; No End to Snowdrops - a biography of Kathleen Raine; and Mithras to Mormon - A Religious History of London. Philippa Bernard lives in North London and is a ’fanatical’ gardener.