Named Thin Ice Press: The York Centre for Print, it 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.
The facility had a soft opening over the summer, but has officially launched today (13 September).
It is open to researchers, students, and members of the public, and is now welcoming visitors for workshops, business away days, talks and events that explore creative art and York’s printing history. A gallery and shop are also in development.
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.
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 centre.
The building 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.
The University of York told Printweek that the powered proofing presses are mainly Vandercooks while the facility also has Adanas, Farley proofing presses, a Risograph, a Kobo hot foiler, a lightbox and powered proofing press from FAG, and an Ideal guillotine.
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.
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.”
Thin Ice Press: The York Centre for Print is exhibiting at the York Book Fair, the UK’s largest celebration of rare and antiquarian books, today, followed by the official launch of the Centre at its home on St Anthony's Gardens at Peasholme Green.
