The Albion Hand Printing Press

The Museum was fortunate enough to be given a small hand press from the era of local printer William Davison to add to their collection. The printing press hadn’t been used for some time and was in poor condition.

This piece of local history was tucked away in a corner of a store room and barely given a second glance, until it was suggested that the Friends and Volunteers should fundraise to have the press restored.

This was just the challenge the Friends and Volunteers needed. If the press was returned to working order it could be the centrepiece of an exhibition about local printers.

Why stop there?

The Friends talked to local groups and discovered that many had no idea how a printing press worked. Younger people couldn’t grasp that something other than a computer printer could produce a printed page. The Friends decided it would be a good idea to run some workshops and activities based around the printing press.

Some of Alnwick’s older residents had been employed by the local printing firms before they closed and were enthusiastic about seeing a press working again. Many had reminiscences and stories they wanted to tell and in the near future the Friends are hoping to make an oral copy of those memories.

A quick calculation was done, and it was soon evident that it would take about 24 Coffee Mornings and a similar number of raffles before the “Printing Press Project” could go ahead.

Undaunted, the Friends decided to approach the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In March 2009 the first approaches were made to the HLF, and they agreed that the restoration of the printing press would fit their criteria.

After many hours and a great deal of help from Gary Campbell of Northumberland County Council, the application form was ready to be submitted.

In October 2009 the Friends heard the wonderful news that the application had been successful.

Celebrations all round!

Thanks to the generosity of the HLF, the press has been restored, workshops are organised and the rebuilding of the printing area in the main gallery of the museum is underway.

Many thanks to James Etherington (Museum Manager), Gary Campbell (Northumberland County Council), The Northumberland Gazette, Alnwick South School, The Community Development Trust, and Ellie Fotheringham of the Heritage Lottery Fund.