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New Centre brings printing traditions back to York

New Centre brings printing traditions back to York

Posted on 11 September 2024

A new Centre has been launched in York to celebrate the city’s tradition of printing, with the aim of protecting this endangered heritage craft.

The Centre is open to researchers, students, and members of the public,

Thin Ice Press: The York Centre for Print has found a new home at the Old School House in York, following a crowdfunding campaign to open up printing press research at the University of York’s Department of English and Related Literature to a wider audience.

It now welcomes visitors for workshops, business away days, talks and events that explore creative art and York’s printing history.

The Centre has its origins in the StreetLife project - a scheme run by the University of York to help regenerate Coney Street in York following the challenges that were presented to high street shops as a result of the pandemic.

Iron press

The project celebrated Coney Street by creating a cultural hub, hosting music and poetry events, and showcasing the city’s printing history by installing an iron handpress at what was once the heart of the city’s thriving newspaper industry.

StreetLife concluded in 2023, and the iron press now sits alongside a wide range of presses and equipment, at the new Thin Ice Press: York Centre for Print.

Thin Ice Press is named as an affectionate tribute to York-based printer Thomas Gent, who during his lifetime published more than 60 works and famously brought a makeshift printing press out onto the frozen River Ouse during the great freeze of 1740, where he printed souvenirs for the eager crowds.

Creative process

Professor Helen Smith, from the University of York’s Department of English and Related Literature, and co-director of the Centre: said: “We are immensely grateful to our donors for making this Centre a reality. Since we opened our doors we have had a great response from visitors and local businesses.

“Our Centre is about exploring the practicalities of getting words onto a page, whether it is a card, a poster, or a book, and reminding people what a creative process that can be.

"Printing is an endangered craft, so we aim to help preserve the skills that it takes to operate these machines, as well as keep some of York’s heritage alive. There was a time when York was the only place outside of London, Oxford and Cambridge where printing took place, so it is exciting to see it back in the city.”

Official launch

The Centre, which is open to researchers, students, and members of the public, houses powered proofing presses, hand presses, tabletop and iron presses including a Columbian dated 1845 and an Albion dated 1853, with an etching press soon to come.

Visitors will be able to attend events, workshops and talks that demonstrate the city's printing history, and local businesses can also make use of the facilities. A gallery and shop is also in development.

Thin Ice Press: The York Centre for Print will be exhibiting at the York Book Fair - the UK’s largest celebration of rare and antiquarian books - on Friday, 13 September, followed by an official launch of the Centre, at its home on St Anthony's Gardens at Peasholme Green.