SCOTLAND’S PRINTING HERITAGE
How Printing developed in Scotland’s Cities.

Scotland has a long-established ‘reputation for excellence’ in printing, particularly book printing. Starting in Edinburgh’s Cowgate in the early sixteenth century, the printing industry increased its scope considerably over the next three centuries and well into the twentieth century.

It declined noticeably during the 1970s and 1980s but, at its peak, had the distinction of being a major source of printed matter for London and Scottish publishers. It was a major employer of labour and had a far flung reputation for the very high standard of its productions.

Edinburgh
A History of the Edinburgh Printing Industry, the first booklet in the series ‘A Reputation for Excellence’, gives a brief account of the advent of printing in Scotland. A patent was granted by King James IV in September 1507 to Walter Chepman and Andro Myllar ‘burgessis of our town of Edinburgh’. At His Majesty’s request they were authorised ‘for our plesour, the honour and profitt of our realme and liegis to furnish the necessary materials and capable workmen to print the books of the laws and other books necessary which might be required’. The partnership set up business in the Southgait (Cowgate) of Edinburgh. From that time until the end of the seventeenth century royal patents were issued to the trade, thus confining printing to a select number.

Glasgow
The introduction of printing presses in Scotland proceeded slowly. the beginnings in Edinburgh in 1507 were followed after forty-five years by St Andrews in 1552, Stirling in 1571 (for a brief period), Aberdeen in 1662, and Glasgow in 1638. Those places had no factories of any size. They were apparently very small workshops, one-man or two-men shops at the most, and it was not unusual for a printer to collect his gear and move from one place to another.

The significance of the first printing press in Glasgow was that the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was meeting there and wanted someone to print and record their decisions. The year 1638 was an extremely important one. The General Assembly on that occasion abolished episcopacy in Scotland for the time being; later this led to Civil War.

Dundee and Perth
Although there is some uncertainty about precisely when printing began in Dundee, there is evidence that the likely date was around 1547. In that year John Scot set up the first press in the town, after which little appears to have been done over the next two centuries to develop and expand the new craft. From the middle of the eighteenth century, however, new businesses were set up and until the second half of the present century Dundee was one of Scotland’s leading printing centres.

Printing in Perth began in 1715, with the arrival there of one Robert Freebairn, referred to in the Edinburgh booklet. He had entered into partnership in Edinburgh with James Wilson following the collapse of the Anderson empire, sharing the office of King’s Printer. After participating in a failed attempt by the Jacobites to capture Edinburgh Castle, he had to flee the town, joining the Jacobite army at Perth, where he was almost immediately called upon to operate the first printing press installed in the town.

Undoubtedly, the most outstanding contributions to Perth’s printing history were made by several generations of the Morison family. Commencing with Robert Morison, the elder, who combined his bookselling business with being Postmaster of Perth in the first half of the eighteenth century, the family connection with printing continued unbroken until at the age of 45 years David Morison retired from business and left Perth in 1855.

Aberdeen and Northern Counties
The three earlier books in this series give accounts of the history of printing in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee and Perth. This fourth endeavours to cover a much wider area: the first part deals with the history of printing in Aberdeen while the second part attempts to encompass what we have called the Northern Counties.

During the latter part of this century, the printing scene in Scotland has changed dramatically. In the Scottish cities, including Aberdeen, the number of printing companies is much reduced, due almost entirely to the introduction and ready availability of new technology. This has enabled even medium-sized businesses to undertake their own printing requirements and, in addition, High Street ‘printers’ have emerged to compete with the remaining traditional commercial printing firms.

The picture throughout the Northern Counties is somewhat different. The main suppliers of print have always been the local newspaper firms and they continue today to cater for the needs of their communities. The second part of this booklet is therefore largely devoted to recording briefly the history of local newspapers in the north, many of whom have already celebrated their own hundredth anniversary.

Rules and Directions to be applied in Printing Houses
This poster dating from 1721 lays down rules for printers and compositors in Edinburgh Printing Houses. It covers personal behaviour, housekeeping and working rules. Fines are prescribed for failing to observe them.

View large version
Buy a copy of the poster?