The Gregynog Press,
Early years
Founded in 1922 by the sisters and art patrons
Margaret Davies and Gwendoline Davies, guided by Thomas Jones,
the press was named after their mansion
Gregynog Hall.
[Harrop, Dorothy A. A History of the Gregynog Press. Pinner: Private Libraries Association, 1980 ] Jones remained its chairman throughout its existence. It rose to prominence in the pre-war era as among the more important
, publishing
limited edition books, primarily on a Victoria
platen printing press. Much of the printing work from 1927 to 1936 was carried out by the skilled printer Herbert John Hodgson,
[ History of Gwasg Gregynog and the Gregynog Press at Gwasg Gregynog website] who had previously worked on the 1926 edition of the T. E. Lawrence's
Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
[ Impressions of War: The Memoirs of Herbert Hodgson 1893-1974, Martlet Books, Oakham, 2010, ch. 3. Herbert Hodgson Printer: Work for T. E. Lawrence and at Gregynog, Wakefield: Fleece Press, 1989.] The American poet and printer
Loyd Haberly was briefly the controller of the press.
It commissioned a private typeface from Graily Hewitt, Gwendolin, dated 1935.[APHA Newsletter]
Reincarnation as Gwasg Gregynog
In 1954 after the death of Gwendoline Davies, Margaret donated most of the machinery used by Gregynog Press to the National Library of Wales.
The press was reopened under the Welsh title
Gwasg Gregynog by the University of Wales in 1978, and production resumed. While the National Library permanently loaned the Press its original Victoria platen press in 1980, since 1986, it has primarily printed with a Heidelberg Cylinder Press.
of the smallest pieces is done by hand, but otherwise manuscripts are typeset with the use of a Monotype machine. Among the press publications are a series of pamphlets entitled "Beirdd Gregynog / Gregynog Poets": the first of these was
Euros Bowen's
Yr Alarch, 1987.
[Bowen, Euros (1987) Yr Alarch. Y Drenewydd, Powys: Gwasg Gregynog ]
Gwasg Gregynog Limited is a company limited by guarantee, which was incorporated on 28 June 1978. It adopted the new Memorandum and Articles of Association on 28 August 2001 and was granted charitable status by the Charity Commission on 11 January 2002 (charity no. 1090060).
The press has been involved in several historic events in Wales in connection with the National Assembly. When the Assembly opened in Wales, the press produced its first documents, including a small hand-bound souvenir volume that served as the Assembly's first publication.
Notes
Further reading
-
Dowd, Anthony; Brockman, James (2004), The Special Bindings of Gwasg Gregynog. Newtown, Powys, Wales: Gwasg Gregynog.
-
Esslemont, David; Hughes, Glyn Tegai (1990), Gwasg Gregynog: a descriptive catalogue of printing at Gregynog 1970-1990. Newtown, Powys, Wales: Gwasg Gregynog.
-
Esslemont, David; Schanilec, Gaylord; Armacost, J. Andrew; Chambers, David (2003), Ink on the Elbow: conversations between David Esslemont & Gaylord Schanilec, Solmentes Press,
-
Evans, Jayne (1990), Gregynog Press Gwasg Gregynog
-
Haberly, Loyd (1979) An American Bookbuilder in England and Wales. London: Bertram Rota
-
Hutchins, Michael (1976), Printing at Gregynog = Argraffu yng Ngregynog : aspects of a great private press = agweddau ar wasg breifat fawr; translated by David Jenkins = y cyfieithiad gan David Jenkins. Cardiff: Welsh Arts Council
External links
