Monday 28 May 2012

Father's Day Tours


Finding a present or an activity for Dad on Fathers’ Day can be a bit of a dilemma, but an answer can be found in Innerleithen. Robert Smail’s Printing Works would like you to bring your Dad along to be put through the first day of his apprenticeship. Dads who pass will be rewarded with their own customized Letterpress poster as a souvenir of their day.

This National Trust for Scotland property is a fully operational Victorian Printing Works, where the craft of hand setting type and printing letterpress is still practiced today, just as it has been on this site since 1866.

Visitors to the works will hear about the fascinating archive and business history in the Office, see the waterwheel turning which powered the works for over 50 years, find out what skills you required to pass the first day of your apprenticeship in the Caseroom and see an impressive range of printing presses in operation in the Machine Room. Tours of the works take approximately 1.5hrs so please allow plenty of time for your visit.

Smail’s has a wonderful gift shop stocking a range of letterpress goods produced on the premises as well as a wide range of quality and quirky gift ideas to suit all tastes and pockets.

This is a place for lovers of industrial heritage, and this Fathers’ Day, could be the answer to the problem of what to give Dad!

Olympic Torch

The Olympic Torch arrives in Innerleithen at 11:53 on Thursday 14 June.  The Printing Works will be marking this with a special Olympic letterpress bookmark.  As always with our souvenir bookmarks yours will be unique as you will set your name and it will be printed on your bookmark.

You can see the route if you follow this link Olympic Torch Relay Route, click on 14/06/12 on the calendar and then on Innerleithen.

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Sunday 13 May 2012

The Visitor’s Book


Some recent comments from the Visitor's Book at Smail's:

Unique / Amazing amount to explore in a very small space.
Janet & John, Auchterarder

Lovely to see machines working and chatting.
Paul, Bolton

Wonderful to see the craftsmanship involved in printing.
Steve, Hawick

Really enjoyed the work that goes into printing & would like to visit again.
Linda, Kelso

Fascinating and deserves to be kept going with work.  Excellent.
Anon

Fantastic!  Came to collect our wedding stationery and had a little look.
Thank you
Leigh-Ann & Neil, Stonehouse

Brilliant, great to see the Heidelberg press running.
Roy & Claire

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Scotland's Stories

Scotland's Stories:
http://www.nts.org.uk/ScotlandsStories/PrintersTale/

An excellent piece on Smail's and I was told by Christine at the Weaver's Cottage (well worth a visit) that the Weaver's Tale is every bit as good.

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