Robert Smail's Printing Works
7-9 High Street |
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.
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.
Open Times: April 1st - October 31st. Thursday - Monday 12noon - 5pm. Sunday 1pm - 5pm
Last admission: Shortened tour in operation after 4pm
Admission Prices: Free admission to members of the National Trust for Scotland or other National Trusts worldwide. Please note: Membership cards must be shown. Adult: £6.00 Child/Concession: £5.00 One Parent Family: £10.50 Family: £15.50
Accessible: Most areas of the tour are accessible to wheelchair users. Steep flight of stairs ascending to the Caseroom. Please note: we do not have visitor toilets at Smail's
Events 2011
March
READ ALL ABOUT IT...
In the year 1893, the Smail's began printing The St. Ronan's Standard and effective Advertiser newspaper. This was a small, local publication, consisting of one page of adverts and three pages of news. In 1896, R. Smail and Sons took over the publishing rights and continued to print The Standard until the year 1916. The St. Ronan's standard was then incorporated into the Peeblesshire News, which is still in publication today. Now, 95 years after the last St. Ronan's Standard came from the press, 2011 sees the production of a full four-page commemorative edition to celebrate the silver jubilee of Robert Smail's Printing Works being saved for the nation by the National Trust for Scotland. The Standard will be distributed free with the Peeblesshire News, in time for Smail's opening for the visitor season on 1st April 2011.
April
SMAIL'S CELEBRATES 25 years in the care of the Trust
On the 1st April 2011, Smail's opens its doors to a new season of guided tours, workshops and events. Come and visit and celebrate with us in this very special year.
LIVING HISTORY 7th - 11th April
Come and take a step back in time to 1896 and see if you've got what it takes to pass the first day of your apprenticeship. Timed tours run every 30mins throughout the day from 12.30pm and take approximately 1.5hrs. Please note: Last admission for living history tours is at 3.30pm. Maximum group size: 14 persons. Admission is free to members of the National Trust for Scotland. Admission prices apply to non-members. Adult £6.00 Child/Conc. £5.00. Family tickets are available from £10.50 (1 adult and up to 4 children) or £15.50 (2 Adults and up to 4 children.) For more information please visit the website www.nts.org.uk or call the property direct on: 0844 493 2259
August
INNERLEITHEN MUSIC FESTIVAL 19th - 21st August
2-for-1 admissions throughout the day at Robert Smail's Printing Works, on presentation of a valid Innerleithen Music Festival ticket. The Printing Works have extended their opening hours for Innerleithen music festival weekend and will be conducting guided tours of the works from 10am until 5pm on Saturday and 11am - 5pm on Sunday (abridged tours in operation after 4pm so please allow 1.5hrs if you would like a chance to sit the first day of your apprenticeship) For more information contact the property on 0844 493 2259
September
BORDERS HERITAGE WEEK 10TH - 18TH SEPTEMBER
Smail's gets involved with Heritage Week 2011, which is focusing on Water as a theme. More details of project/workshop/event to follow.
Borders Heritage Week, organised by the Countryside and Heritage Team at Scottish Borders Council (SBC), aims to raise awareness of the heritage attractions in the Scottish Borders.
October
LEAF PRINTING Friday 28th of October 3.45 - 5.45pm or 6.30 - 8.30pm
Use leaves from trees and plants to make greetings cards and pictures. This workshop is the perfect chance to try a variety of printing techniques. Part of the Tweed Valley Forest Festival. Minimum age 8 years. Cost to cover materials Adults £6.00 Concessions/Children £5.00. To book a place telephone 0844 493 2259 or e: [email protected]
November/December
SHOPPING AFTER DARK Friday 25th November 6pm - 9pm
A chance to late night shop, eat delicious home-made mince pies with clotted cream and drink mulled wine. Come and soak up the wonderful Christmas atmosphere at Smail's while you peruse our wide range of quality and quirky Christmas decorations, gifts and letterpress printed stationery.
GET CRAFTY FOR CHRISTMAS Sunday 27th November 11am - 4pm
Make those Christmas gifts really special. Come along to this drop in event where you can make bags, greetings cards wrapping paper and gift tags. Donation to cover costs of materials requested.
CHRISTMAS GIFT SHOP
Open from Friday, 4th November. Opening hours as follows: Monday and Friday, 10am - 4pm and Saturday, 9am - 3pm. Also open Sunday 27th December as part of Open Innerleithen and Sunday 11th December as part of Switched on Sunday
Smail's Christmas Gift Shop will be opening in the run up to the festive season. A chance to come in and purchase unique printed cards, stationery and gifts. As well as a wide range of printed goods, there is also a variety of quality and quirky Christmas decorations and gifts to suit every person and pocket. All proceeds from shop sales directly benefit the National Trust for Scotland.
Christmas Shop Opening Hours
Friday 4th November 10am - 4pm
Saturday 5th November 9am - 3pm
Monday 7th November 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10th November 10am - 4pm
Friday 11th November 10am - 4pm
Saturday 12th November 9am - 3pm
Monday 14th November 10am - 4pm
Thursday 17th November 10am - 4pm
Friday 18th November 10am - 4pm
Saturday 19th November 9am - 3pm
Monday 21st November 10am - 4pm
Thursday 24th November 10am - 4pm
Friday 25th November 10am - 4pm
Saturday 26th November 9am - 3pm
Sunday 27th November 11am - 4pm (part of Open Innerleithen)
Monday 28th November 10am - 4pm
Thursday 1st December 10am - 4pm
Friday 2nd December 10am - 4pm
Saturday 3rd December 9am - 3pm
Monday 5th December 10am - 4pm
Thursday 8th December 10am - 4pm
Friday 9th December 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10th December 9am - 3pm
Sunday 11th December 2pm - 5pm (part of Switched on Sunday)
Monday 12th December 10am - 4pm
Thursday 15th December 10am - 4pm
Friday 16th December 10am - 4pm
Saturday 17th December 9am - 3pm
Monday 19th December 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 20th December 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 21st December 3pm - 4pm
Thursday 22nd December 10am - 4pm
Friday 23rd December 9am - 3pm
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest and Natural Beauty is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC 007410
