Robert Smail's Printing Works (National Trust for Scotland) — Attraction in Scotland

This is a thoroughly outstandingly incredible former printing press from the Victorian era owned by National Trust for Scotland. What makes this is so special and unique is that that everything from the items left in the museum, caseroom and the printing press are all the original items from when the printing press started back in the Victorian era and this is remarkable as most people would not think any items from this period would last as they have. In this case it bucks the trend as all the original items left are still present and fabulous condition which is a testament to the work the trust has done in conserving them. For this reason is like stepping into a time capsule and great witnessing history being preserved as it was. The examples are a glass case and glasses worn by the original owner Cowan, Camera, Till and all of the printers used in the printing process. Visit to the property is by pre-booked guided tour only and the way to book is through via the website and the tours are available at times of 11:00hrs, 13:30h and 15:15hrs on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between March and October. The tours are thoroughly informative and interesting along with being enthralling and enjoyable about the life of the Printing Works and Robert Smails and the process of printing. The tours are also fun and interactive where you can try your hand at being an apprentice compositor in the Caseroom. The tours last 90 minutes and starts off in the Museum where you learn about how the Printing business started in the Victorian era and what areas it specialised such as Printing of Newspapers and Posters and you can see some of the examples made a book booklet produced by the tour guide and some of the samples are absolutely amazing and you can also learn about how the Printing Press was left to the National Trust for Scotland in 1986. In the museum you can see all the original items left by Snail such as The Camera, The Glasses & Glasses Case, Typewriter and Till which are in marvellous and remarkable condition considering their age. The tour moves in to the first printing room where you learn about items were printed from stones they used with inscriptions on them and you can see also where the waterwheels and it's pulleys powered the printing works. The tour then moves onto the Caseroom where you can learn about how the individual letters were placed together into blocks then pressed when used to help the process of printing newspapers and you can having a go at doing your own printing placing letters into the writing block which is then used to be printed onto a bookmark, which you can take home as a souvenir as a good reminder and prior to starting the tour you are given an apprentice leaflet which provide details some of the rules and regulations for the apprentices working at the printing press. The tour then finishes in the Printing Press Room where you can witness a live printing press demonstrations from the tour guide which is great to see and an interest watch from the printing press machines and two of the examples of the Printing Press Machines are The Wharfedale Press & The Heidelberg both of which are in great magnificent working condition. Another great unique note of this place is the fact it is still a working printing press and does posters for people on request and also prints things for cards for occasions such as Birthdays and other events which are on sale in the gift shop along with other great items. There is no cafe on the site but there is a gift shop which has mentioned earlier sells items that have been printed on the premises at reasonable prices along with some great books. Overall this is a thoroughly magnificent attraction to visit and is also an enjoyable and excellent place to see a tour of an Old original Victorian Printing Press still in use today. Definitely a place worth visiting whilst in the Scottish Borders and also a place that makes for a thoroughly unique, interesting and...

Robert Smail’s Printing Works tour, operated by National Trust Scotland, provides an enjoyable and educational experience in the history of commercial printing at this small establishment. The staff were fabulous with their knowledge and dedication to this craft.

The tour was particularly engaging because it was active and interactive. First, the guides described the printing works' history and showed various printed materials since the mid-1800s. Later, they demonstrated the earliest manual printing methods, and during the latter part of the tour operated some of the semi-automated machinery. During the middle of the tour, visitors were given the opportunity to set the type for their names, which was then pressed for a printed souvenir.

We found parking along Hall Street, which had several free parking spaces in the late afternoon. Further down that street is a car park with free parking.

NOTE: Visited in...

Wife took me to the printing works as a present for our wedding anniversary. Have not been in a printing works for 45 years, (Im actually a time served Journeyman to the trade). Kept quiet about this at the start of the tour. The staff at the works were most informative about all the workings of the place, clean and tidy staff and workplace, willing to answer any questions put to them, (wife had never been in a printshop ever).We all tried our hand at composing type, all came back to me in minutes. Then to the machine room for demonstration. I asked many questions about the type and machines, all for my wifes benefit. All answered simply and informatively for the visitors. Most impressed. A big thank you to the staff for an enjoyable visit. Hope to be back there...