Spiritual shop Spooks has been on Haworth Main Street for nearly 40 years

Ahead of Halloween, KATE HUSTLER, who took over the shop this year, shares her story so far of Spooks - the Telegraph & Argus Trader of the Week:

“Spooks is the first shop that greets you after disembarking the steam train of the Worth Valley Railway. One often sees red-faced people taking a breather from the walk up the steep cobbled incline, sitting on the platform of the majestic columns at the shop entrance. One has to develop a keen ear to hear breathless requests as they approach the counter!

Few businesses on Main Street have achieved the longevity of Spooks. This famous esoteric bookshop was established in 1983 by Stan and Shirley Ledgard. They maintained, and we have no reason to doubt them, that they received direct instruction from the spirit world to open a bookshop that would cater for those wishing to explore any spiritual path. One might interpret this as Spooks catering for bespoke spiritual needs.

Stan Ledgard, who opened Spooks in 1983 (Image: Submitted)

Older inhabitants of Haworth remember previous occupancies, such as the indoor market or the painters and decorators (Whittakers). Since the building was constructed in the mid 18th century, it has altered structurally. It has been a dwelling for numerous souls, some of whom have decided to remain with us! Spooks is haunted (as much of Haworth is) by various ghosts. Its many visitors describe Spooks ghosts with remarkable consistency.

Haworth Main Street when Whitakers was there in the 1950s (Image: submitted)

Following Stan’s untimely death in 2014, Shirley continued to trade, but the impact of the pandemic took its toll and Shirley decided it was time to move on. This is where my story begins...

At the beginning of this year I was crestfallen that a beautiful Georgian property I had my heart set on buying and developing into a holiday let in the Lake District had fallen through. As a former nurse, I trained during the pandemic to administer vaccinations in Bradford and this was coming to a natural hiatus, leaving me rudderless. It was a Sunday afternoon and my husband collected his mother as usual and decided for a change he would take her to Haworth, in his words “to have a mooch”. They came upon Spooks and he took her in to have a nostalgic mooch, remembering his first deck of tarot cards, bought from there around 1984. The lovely sales assistants who told him this charming building was for sale, including the shop and flat above. Sensing a spark of interest, they offered to show him round.

“He returned that evening, regaled his little adventure in Haworth and asked if it was a preposterous idea that we buy the shop as an investment, even though the thought of buying a shop in Haworth, a place I last went to years ago as a child, would never had entered my psychi before that day.

Enquiries were made and it became apparent that the owner would be happier to sell to someone with similar business interests, would take it on as a going concern, and keep the staff. Without hesitation I said ‘Yes’. I had no knowledge of the spiritual world and had never had a tarot card deck or even knew what tarot was about!

Spooks sells a range of esoteric books, tarot cards, crystals and gifts (Image: Submitted)

Several months later, in April, I received the keys to the shop and stood at the door with a sense of anticipation and girlish glee. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into but decided it couldn’t be that hard, selling books and cards. I was ready for something new and I loved being in Haworth. And ‘pretending’ to be a shop keeper was a secret life-long dream.

This was followed by a hard knock back into reality. Unlike many people rebooting a business, I decided to open that day without any preparation - in my own word, ‘organically’. My husband dashed around and cruised internet sites excitedly buying gothic like paraphernalia and antiques. This frenzy of activity initially freaked me out but now, looking at the beautiful items he brought into the shop, fills me with happiness as they are essential to its identity. My favourite is our tremendous Raven, purchased from Iceland and loved by all who enter.

The raven, from Iceland, is popular with customers (Image: Submitted)

I was introduced to the tarot card readers and sales assistants. Never before had I met such intelligent, well-read individuals, who liked to be referred to as witches, but never to be called witches - a rookie mistake I made, never to be repeated! They were a mine of information, pandering to my ignorance with such terms as “Runes? You don’t know what runes are?” I couldn’t have got this far without the support of my staff and their families. They are truly dedicated to Spooks.

Spooks is a "spiritual hub" says Kate (Image: submitted)

Spooks is not just a shop, but a way of life. It’s a spiritual hub, where stories are exchanged. People come in not just to buy books, card decks and gifts but to look for answers, whether it be tarot readings, astrological birth chart analysis, palmistry or tasseography. The shop shows kindness and acceptance.

Since opening in April, feedback from visitors suggests the shop is flourishing once again and I hope to carry it forward with my exceptional team. We sell esoteric books, tarot card decks, crystals and gifts. We provide walk-in tarot readings at weekends and booked appointments during the week. We also give personal astrological birth charts and hope to expand the spiritual healing side.

On Sunday, October 30 Spooks will open for Hawortheen, collaborating with Haunted Haworth Ghost Walks, for pop-up ghost stories, one-minute tarot and short tours.”

* Spooks, Main Street, Haworth. Email info@spooks.co.uk, Facebook and Instagram or visit spooks.co.uk