Atticus
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Atticus is a small shop in Lancaster UK selling mainly books and supporting Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Centre



Atticus was started as bookshop coffee bar above the legendary Probe Records in 1971 by Tom Flemons and Liz Mac Garvey. It  also became home to the famous Atticus Chess club.
Why the name Atticus?
We wanted a name beginning with A to be near the top of the bookshop listings and one with some literary connections. We put a few in a hat and Atticus came out, Did we consider Aardvark? We did, but not for long.





Atticus has always been a shared enterprise and has only survived thanks to the help of its staff and loyal customers. Too many people to name but you can see some of them in the pictures below. Things have changed enormously with the rise of the internet and perhaps the small bookshop has had its day, nevertheless I feel that the need for the presence of a small physical 'alternative' space that can be used by writers, readers, artists and musicians  has never been more needed.
Tom Flemons


Jill McArdleWhen Probe moved into the city centre Atticus moved to a larger shop on Hardman Street where it hosted signing sessions and readings from William Burroughs, John Cage, Brian Patten, Michael Horowitz, Ramsey Campbell, Gilbert Shelton and others. Running into financial difficulties in the 1980s Atticus moved into secondhand books and relocated to smaller premises on the same street. One of the distinctive features of the shop was the cut out figure of James Joyce made by Geoff Johnson. Geoff also designed our distinctive advertising.

Jill McArdle helped to run Atticus after it moved to Hardman Street and organise all the major events.
In the 1990s as second Atticus opened in Lancaster by Tom and the Liverpool shop continued to be run by Jill McArdle for several years more until the lease expired and it finally closed.
Atticus Books in Lancaster survived until 2001 until it finally closed and Tom moved to the Midlands and a full time job promoting arts events in libraries.  Atticus in Lancaster was purchased with a £40,000 bank loan and survived just long enough to pay it off. During the 1990s Atticus put on many events, including the notorious Ghost story competition and reading and the Dada Feast, as well as hosting a writing group. it was during this time that writer and broadcaster Ian Marchant worked in the shop.
The shop closed in 2001 when Tom left to take a full time job promoting arts events in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent libraries, followed by four years at The School of Oriental and African Studies studying Indonesian Language.

In 2014 Tom returned to Lancaster to reopen Atticus as a not-for-profit shop supporting Tasikoki Animal Rescue Centre in Indonesia where he had spent time doing voluntary work.
The pictures below tell some of the story.

The first Atticus opened above Probe records
The poster for our first shop
Atticus was part of the 'alternative' scene in the 1970s. This is the back of Alternative England and Wales. Spot Tom!
Our entry in Alternative England and Wales
The entry for Lancaster in Alternative England and Wales 1972
Atticus, Hardman Street, Liverpool
One of the most popular signing sessions ever. To cope with the crowds Gilbert Shelton signed with a rubber stamp!
The poster for John Cage's visit to Atticus Hardman Street
William Burroughs in Atticus Liverpool 1982. Jill McArdle
William Burroughs in Atticus Liverpool 1982
William Burroughs in Atticus Liverpool 1982
Brian Patten at Hardman Street
Moving to smaller premises
The last Liverpool Atticus. Liz, Jill, Sharon and James Joyce.
The original Atticus Lancaster
Atticus Lancaster ran several ghost story events. This was the competition when we bussed an audience to a remote barn for a midnight reading
Atticus Lancaster 1990s
Ghost stories in the shop. Poster made before our first computer!
Atticus and the Golden Fry!
Atticus Seance. and Shakespeare signing session.
Atticus writing group 1996?
Atticus Xmas party 1995?
Stage for reading from Escarpia, a parent and child creative writing course run at The Adult College
Poetry Breakfast
Poetry Breakfast again
Dada event window
Writing Group window
Dada evening
Atticus Dada event
Tracey Mansell exhibition
Dada event
The new Atticus Lancaster
Music Festival 2014
Arbie Jay's Midnight Blues at Atticus 2014
Music Festival 2014
Music Festival 2014
Caitlin and Santa 2014
Music Festival 2015
Music Festival 2015
Music Festival 2015. The Rat's Nest.
Music Festival 2015. The Rat's Nest.
Lenni Sanders Poetry Reading
Music Festival 2016. The Disorientorium
Music Festival 2016.Andi and Dina
Music Festival 2016. The Funk Tank

If you have any pictures of Atticus in Liverpool or Lancaster (Or if you know the whereabouts of James Joyce!) please let us know.
Picture

Atticus        tomattic.com
The photos of stone carvings used in the headers are from Indonesian and Cambodian temples. The pictures on the book pages are all old maps relating to the various subjects.