dest working commercial letterpress printers in the UK – a living museum of Victorian history.
- Try your hand at being an apprentice compositor in the Caseroom.
- See how newspapers, tickets, posters and letterheads were printed before the digital age.
- Explore Robert Smail’s office, scarcely altered since 1866.
- Admire the waterwheel that once powered the printing works.
- Discover a working letterpress printers.
- Peruse the Stationers Shop for letterpress printed items, and traditional stock such as pens and ink
11am, 1.30pm and 3.15pm: Our guided tours schedule is varied throughout the year to allow us to continue to produce letterpress printed materials. See www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/robert-smails for the full schedule or use our Eventbrite to view bookable dates.
Access to the printing works area is by tour only. Tours last around 90 minutes.
[Spaces are limited and so booking in advance is recommended. Members can book for free, while non-members will need to pay when booking.]