The Petersfield Bookshop in Chapel Street was, until 1959, the site of a stables and bread store which was later enlarged into a neighbouring abattoir and tobacco warehouse.

Humble beginnings for a business that now proudly displays two Royal Warrants above the entrance.

Her Majesty the Queen’s warrant dates from 1988 and was joined in 1995 by one from the Prince of Wales in recognition of services as a “picture framer and supplier of art materials”.

John and David Westwood now run the business which their parents Frank and Ann expanded so successfully.

First established in 1918 by Dr Harry Roberts and Flora Twort (two eminent Petersfield residents whose stories are told elsewhere), the Petersfield Bookshop was originally sited at 1 The Square (now Halsa Cosmetics).

Frank Westwood, who was recently married, was appointed the manager in 1956. Born the son of a London bus driver in 1929, Frank was evacuated to Hertfordshire during the Second World War where he first developed his lifelong passion for fly fishing.

At 13 he left school and another lifelong passion, this time for antiquarian books, was ignited after working at Francis Edwards the specialist booksellers in London (established in 1855). This was also where Frank met his future wife Ann.

Frank’s career was interrupted by a period of national service as a signaller in the Royal Navy until he was demobbed in 1956.

The die was cast when Frank and his bride visited Petersfield on a day’s outing and fell in love with the town.

Frank saw the advertisement for a manager at the Petersfield Bookshop and was duly appointed at six guineas a week.

He later recalled that one of his customers was a pig which had escaped from the market in the Square.

Soon after he took up his new role the owner, by then-owner, Mrs Field, relocated the bookshop to 2 Chapel Street (now Stuff).

Two years later Frank and Ann (by now parents to David) decided to take the plunge by buying the business from Mrs Field and moved the shop to its current premises, making room for the books by removing the horse collars and breadcrumbs.

Frank and an assistant started framing pictures, maps and prints and selling artists’ materials as well as capitalising on Frank’s love and knowledge of antiquarian books to expand the business. David, while working as a conservator at the Royal Library, provided the original introduction which led to the award of the Royal Warrants.

In 2002 the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association recognised Frank’s 50 years of service when Joanna Lumley presented him with a book case.

Today the bookshop still caters for inveterate bibliophiles with 24 hour access to books outside the shop (with an honesty box).

Visitors will also find a fascinating display of antique dolls and a doll’s house tucked in among the labyrinth of books.

The connection with local celebrities has continued. Flora Twort used to visit the bookshop and straighten up the paintings on the wall.

Erika Roe worked at the shop for about two years and on January 2, 1982, put the town and the shop on the map when she streaked across the pitch at Twickenham during an England v Australia rugby match. Frank’s son John had his portrait hung at the National Portrait Gallery in 2009.

It is hard to identify the antiquarian bookseller beneath the blue and white and tattoos displaying his die-hard allegiance to Portsmouth FC.

By Linda Tipple