Bodleian hand printing workshop
The Bodleian Library's wonderful historic printing presses have found a new home at The Story Museum. Workshops and classes are open to the public, see below.
living history through the printed word
The Bodleian’s Bibliography Room was founded in 1948 and has been housed in the Clarendon Building and the New Bodleian, most recently in the basement. Now it's emerged into the light and moved into large, sunny rooms at The Story Museum, where it will be known as the Bodleian Hand-Printing Workshop.
The oldest pieces of printing equipment date from 1669: three wooden composing frames originally made for the University Press by a local joiner John Rainsford. Presses include four Albion hand presses, a Columbian press, a wooden ‘common press’ from the 18th century and several small Adana machines. The Room has recently been given a Vandercook proof press by the family of the late Vivian Ridler, who was Printer to the University.
The Room also has printing and typefounding equipment and relief blocks, many originating from the Samson Press archive, which came to the Bodleian around 1970.
For more info on the presses, visit the Bodleian website
print workshops and classes
Family printing sessions for children aged 8-16 years, courses, workshops and one-off demonstrations and displays are held here at The Story Museum, using techniques and machinery that have not changed since the early 19th century – and have their origins in mid-15th century Germany.
summer/autumn 2012 programme
family printing workshops
2.00-4.00pm Saturday 21 July, Saturday 18 August, Saturday 29 September, Saturday 27 October, Saturday 24 November 2012
Learn how to print by hand. Print your own keepsake. This exciting two-hour workshop is led by Dr Paul Nash, a specialist in historic printing techniques and presses at the Bodleian Library. Paul will give you a short talk on the history of printing, after which you'll set your own name in type and print, using some of the historic printing presses.
Places are limited to 16 only. Suitable for ages 8 plus. Children aged 8-16 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost £8 pp.
To book: Contact Eka Morgan, telephone: 01865 790050
More info: Contact Paul Nash.
adult printing workshop
7.00-9.00pm Tuesday 24 July, Tuesday 6 November, 2012
Details and contact information as above. Age 16 plus. Cost £15 pp.
hand printing course
7.00-9.00pm Tuesdays: six sessions, beginning 11 September 2012
For beginners or those with some knowledge of printing and graphic design. The course will begin with a short history of printing, followed by demonstrations of hand-composition and hand-printing. You'll then be able to set a poem of your choice, make up a forme, take a proof, make corrections, print the poems together as a small book, distribute the type, bind the book using marbled paper and take a copy home.
Places are limited to 9 people, age 16 plus. Cost £120 pp for six sessions. Contact details as above.
Disabled access
We have limited disabled access. Please contact us for more information: 01865 790050
Let's keep the art of letterpress alive!
You'll be using machinery and techniques that have their origins in mid 15th century Germany and which haven't changed in more than 200 years.
View video: Short history of letterpress printing: fascinating five-minute film.
what you thought of the workshops
'I just wanted to say a big thank you for the wonderful printing workshop. My 8 year old daughter Ella and I absolutely loved it. Paul Nash was brilliant and it was all so interesting and fun. Ella was really fired up and wanted to do more and make more.' Mary.
Here's tutor Paul Nash with a poster he did earlier.
