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Robert Smail's Printing Works

Robert Smail's Printing Works
7-9 High Street, Innerleithen, EH44 6HA
Tel: 0844 493 2259
Web: www.nts.org.uk
Email: smails@nts.org.uk

Opening Times
21 March until 31 October 2008
Thursday until Monday,
Noon - 5pm
Sunday, 1pm - 5pm
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS

NTS/NT Members Free, otherwise admission charge applies

Robert Smail's Printing Works

The small Peeblesshire town of Innerleithen is the home of Robert Smail's Printing Works, a fully operational jobbing letterpress printers, first established in the town in 1866. The property includes a Gift Shop, Office and Printworks (Paper Store, Caseroom and Machineroom) and was acquired by the National Trust for Scotland in 1986 on the retiral of Cowan Smail, the third generation of the family which had owned the firm for 120 years. During that time, Smail's carried out print jobs for the whole community, in addition to publishing a weekly newspaper from 1893 until 1916.

Our archive includes 50 guardbooks containing a copy of every printed job for nearly a century. In the office, job dockets, invoices, wages books and ledgers dating back to the start of the business are stacked on shelves. Drawers full of slates and pencils, nibs, sealing wax, bottles of ink and ARP tape confirm that Smail's was the place to buy anything and everything. Replica guardbooks, newspapers and shipping tickets can be looked at.

Visitors can see rack upon rack of founders' type arranged around the Caseroom, and shelves of poster type lining the walls. Here everything was punctiliously set by hand (and still is!) for Smail's made little attempt to enter the twentieth century. The last job set by Cowan Smail is still in its galley: 'Closing Down Sale from Today'.

Everyone who visits Smail's is encouraged to try hand setting for themselves and if time allows the Compositor will proof these efforts to see who has (or hasn't) passed their apprenticeships!

In the Machineroom visitors will see the presses in action from the Treadle Platen, through the Wharfedale Reliance (bought in the 1870s) to the Heidelberg Platen, bought at an exhibition in 1952. When the presses are in action you will see the old belt and pulley system, a throw-back to when Smail's ran on water power.

The Trust is carrying on many Smail's traditions: the annual St. Ronan's Calendar is being printed once again and we are printing a range of jobbing work to suit our customer needs.

Living History Tours

We beg to inform you...
Robert Smail's Printing Works is celebrating the 500 years of printing in Scotland by staging Victorian living history tours. The trade Chepman and Myllar learnt in France and brought to Scotland 500 years ago differs little from the way Smail's worked from 1866 until 1986. The huge Victorian advance in technology means that the presses are more modern but the type is still set by hand in the original way. For the first time visitors to this unique National Trust for Scotland property can literally step back in time and meet employees of R. Smail & Sons from 1896.

Sirs,
We are inviting attendance from potential apprentices whom may be interested in learning all aspects of the printing trade. Apply in person to R. Smail & Sons, High Street, Innerleithen on Saturday inst. Applicants will be received between the hours of Noon and 5 o'clock whereupon staff will instruct and then judge upon suitability for the positions available. Your obedient servant, R. C. Smail

The Living History Tours will run on the last Saturday of the month during the open season: 26 April, 31 May, 28 June, 26 July, 30 August, 27 September and 25 October, Noon-5pm. Normal admission applies.

500 Years of Printing in Scotland

On 15th September 1507 Androw Myllar and Walter Chepman were granted a patent by King James IV, an enthusiastic innovator and patron of the arts, to set up Scotland's first printing press in Edinburgh's 'South Gait' (now the Cowgate). The earliest copy of one of their books The Complaint of the Black Knight is dated 4 April 1508 and is held in the collection of The National Library of Scotland. To celebrate this occasion, and the quincentenary of printing in Scotland, 2008 has been designated: The Year of the Printed Word.

Come and visit one of the National Trust for Scotland's smaller and more unusual properties, a fully operational letterpress printing works, and try setting type as it would have been in the time of Chepman and Myllar. Free Entry to Members of the NTS/NT, otherwise charge applies.

Workshops and Events 2008

18 May, 11am until 4pm
Printrash
Smail's@Newhailes Environment Fair
Printing on, from and with the things that everyday folk leave behind.

Sunday 1 June
St. Ronan's Tattoo
Robert Smail's will be hosting a drop-in printing activity as part of the Tattoo at Traquair House.

20 - 22 June
Wanted... Printer's Devils!
Smail's at the Borders Book Festival
Drop-in events and workshops
www.bordersbookfestival.org

1 August - end October
500 Years of Printing/NTS Exhibition with demonstration days by staff and volunteers from Smail's at 28 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh

October
Big Draw - An Alphabet of Smail's
Come and celebrate 500 Years of Printing in Scotland with the National Trust for Scotland's fully operational letterpress printing works. We need help to produce an illustrated alphabet of and for Robert Smail's. Open to all ages and abilities throughout the month of October.
Finished work will be bound into a book and form part of the Print 500 portfolio of work to be exhibited at the end of the year.

14 October
Leaf Printing Workshops
10am - Noon and repeated 2pm - 4pm
(in association with Scottish Borders Rangers Service)
Use leaves from trees and plants to print images to make greetings cards and pictures. This workshop is the perfect chance to try a variety of printing techniques. Minimum age 8 years. Cost to cover materials Adults £5, concessions/children £4. To book a place telephone:
0844 493 2259.

The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest and Natural Beauty is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC 007410