The printing revolution
At the beginning of the 19th century, a revolution in printing took place. The era of the hand press came to a close with the invention of the printing machine. Now more actions could be performed automatically or partly mechanically.
Paper became much cheaper and was produced in much greater quantities than before. Literacy among the general population increased and with it the demand for more and affordable reading material.
19th century printing towns
This revolution is reflected in a 400% increase in the number of Scottish printing towns. In the first 300 years of printing, Scotland had 39 printing towns. In the following 100 years, another 168 were established.
Ordered by Year. Order by Town?
| Year | Town | Printer |
|---|---|---|
| 1801 | Cupar | Robert Tullis |
| 1804 | Haddington | George Miller |
| 1805 | Dalkeith | Published by John Macintosh |
| 1805 | Kirkcudbright | Alexander Gordon |
| 1807 | Wigtown | R. Hetherton |
| 1808 | Musselburgh | J. Findlay |
| 1810 | Inverary | Unknown printer |
| 1811 | Dunfermline | John Miller |
| 1813 | Linlithgow | Alexander Waldie |
| 1815 | Irvine | J. Mennons & Son |
| 1815 | Jedburgh | Walter Easton |
| 1815 | Auchinleck | Ruthven's Patent Press |
| 1816 | Aquhorties | Seminary Press |
| 1816 | Peterhead | Peter Buchan |
| 1816 | Stranraer | D. Duncan |
| 1817 | Selkirk | Thomas Brown |
| 1817 | Kinghorn | J. Birrell |
| 1818 | Lanark | William Murray Borthwick |
| 1818 | Beith | Dr Gemmill |
| 1820 | Airdrie | J. and J. Neil |
| 1820 | Hamilton | William Murray Borthwick |
| 1820 | Kincardine | W. Liddell |
| 1820 | Saltcoats | Unknown printer |
| 1821 | Lochwinnoch | William Taylor |
| 1821 | Forfar | Alexander Anderson |
| 1822 | Annan | P. Forrest |
| 1823 | Castle Douglas | A[nthony] Davidson |
| 1824 | Tain | Kenneth Douglas |
| 1826 | Thurso | William Todd |
| 1826 | Dunkeld | D. M’Donald |
| 1826 | Orbiston | Orbiston Press |
| 1826 | Largs | Robert Harriston |
| 1828 | Kinfauns | Kinfauns Press |
| 1828 | Orkney | Unknown printer |
| 1828 | Dumbarton | Dumbarton Printing Office |
| 1829 | Johnstone | Archibald Arnot |
| 1830 | Galashiels | David Fair |
| 1830 | Wick | William Todd |
| 1831 | Dunblane | Unknown printer |
| 1831 | Alloa | James Lothian |
| 1832 | Portobello | J. Johnstone |
| 1837 | Stewarton | Thomas Wilson |
| 1837 | Lerwick | William Bain |
| 1837 | Forres | John D. Miller |
| 1837 | Coupar Angus | William Liddell |
| 1838 | Dingwall | Unknown printer |
| 1838 | Kinross | John Taylor |
| 1838 | Johnshill | Unknown printer |
| 1840 | Nairn | Unknown printer |
| 1840 | Carluke | R. Langlands |
| 1841 | Aberfeldy | D. Cameron |
| 1843 | Biggar | Unknown printer |
| 1843 | Fintray | John Cumming |
| 1843 | Stonehaven | W. Johnson |
| 1843 | Port Glasgow | R. Montgomerie |
| 1844 | Pittenweem | James Scott |
| 1844 | Kirtlebridge | Unknown printer |
| 1844 | Kirkwall | James Urquhart Anderson |
| 1844 | Coldstream | Robert Kerr |
| 1846 | Coatbridge | Baird & Bowskell |
| 1846 | Kirkintilloch | Wiliam M'Millan |
| 1847 | Rothesay | John Wilson |
| 1847 | Lochmaben | Unknown printer |
| 1848 | Kirriemuir | William B. Mills |
| 1848 | Langholm | Thomas Laidlaw |
| 1849 | Keith | George Masson |
| 1851 | Renfrew | Alex. Gardner |
| 1852 | Fraserburgh | Gordon Lyall |
| 1853 | Burntisland | Pitsligo Press |
| 1853 | Ardrossan | Arthur Guthrie |
| 1853 | Lockerbie | D. Halliday |
| 1853 | Wishaw | Unknown printer |
| 1854 | Partick | A. Ferrie (publ.) |
| 1855 | Invergordon | Hugh Graham |
| 1856 | Anstruther | Lewis Russell |
| 1856 | Girvan | Unknown printer |
| 1857 | Kilmartin | L. Malcolm |
| 1857 | Newburgh | James Wood |
| 1857 | Portsoy | Thomas Anderson |
| 1858 | Moffat | William Muir |
| 1858 | Blairgowrie | David Christie |
| 1858 | Turriff | Cuddy Skene |
| 1859 | Strathaven | Alexander Morton |
| 1859 | Auchterarder | Thomas McQueen |
| 1860 | Bathgate | J. Johnston |
| 1860 | Leslie | H. Jollie |
| 1860 | Lochaber | Unknown printer |
| 1860 | Leven | T. Porter |
| 1861 | Kilwinning | A. W. Cross |
| 1861 | Oban | James Miller |
| 1863 | Pulteneytown | John George |
| 1863 | Huntly | Adam Dunbar |
| 1864 | Tranent | P. M'Neill (publ.?) |
| 1865 | Cumbrae (Isle of) | Garrison Press |
| 1866 | Glamis Castle | Unknown printer |
| 1867 | Inchgarvie | Benjamin Franklin |
| 1867 | Broughty Ferry | Charles Milne |
| 1868 | Dunoon | John Colegate |
| 1868 | Motherwell | F. Crawford |
| 1869 | Alyth | Thomas M'Murray and George Milne |
| 1870 | Sandbank | J.E. & R. Inglis |
| 1871 | North Berwick | Haddingtonshire Journal Steam Printing Works |
| 1871 | Tiree | Unknown printer |
| 1871 | Barrhead | Unknown printer |
| 1871 | Innerleithen | R. Smail |
| 1872 | Helensburgh | W. Battrum |
| 1873 | Bo'ness | Francis W. Broome |
| 1874 | Carnoustie | Alexander Reid |
| 1877 | Alva | Unknown printer |
| 1878 | Rutherglen | J. Kelly |
| 1878 | Grangemouth | George G. Stephen |
| 1878 | Denny | David Ritchie |
| 1879 | Kintore | Unknown printer |
| 1879 | Stevenston | H. Thomson |
| 1879 | Tillicoultry | Roxburgh & Rae |
| 1880 | Buckie | William Forsyth Johnstone |
| 1880 | Kennoway | printed privately |
| 1881 | Kilbarchan | Unknown printer |
| 1881 | Sleat, Skye | Unknown printer |
| 1881 | Grantown-on-Spey | Angus Stuart |
| 1881 | Galston | William McDonald & Sons |
| 1882 | Kilsyth | D. Drummond Cairns & Co |
| 1883 | Millport | Unknown printer |
| 1883 | Govan | John Cossar |
| 1883 | Colinsburgh | [Robert Dick |
| 1883 | Dalbeattie | Robert Grieve |
| 1884 | Monifieth | David Macrae |
| 1884 | Pollockshaws | Barrhead News Publishing Co. |
| 1884 | Inverurie | Thomas Dare |
| 1884 | Lochgilphead | [George] Higgie and [Robert] Paterson |
| 1885 | West Calder | A.H. Aikman |
| 1887 | Uddingston | William Myles |
| 1887 | Iona | W. Muir, J. McCormick |
| 1887 | Pitlochry | A. Doggart |
| 1888 | Queensferry | Queensferry Printing Co. |
| 1888 | Brodick | Henry Ribbeck |
| 1888 | Bellshill | W. B. Reid |
| 1888 | Whithorn | Belmont Hall Bazaar |
| 1889 | Earlston | Thos. Weatherly |
| 1889 (1873) | Cumnock | George McMillan |
| 1890 | Aboyne | Unknown printer |
| 1890 | Newmilns | M. & W. Walker |
| 1890 | Leuchars | Unknown printer |
| 1891 | Broxburn | Clark & Steel |
| 1891 | Clydebank | John Cossar |
| 1892 | Lochgelly | J. Westwater |
| 1892 | Prestonpans | Unknown printer |
| 1893 | Newhills | Davidson & Sons |
| 1893 | Bridge of Allan | Unknown printer |
| 1894 | Dufftown | James Ingram |
| 1896 | Cambuslang | J. Lithgow and Sons |
| 1896 | Baillieston | George Hutcheson & Co. |
| 1897 | Stow | Sanderson & Son |
| 1898 | Killin | MacWilliam and MacRay |
| 1898 | Troon | R. Young |
| 1899 | Dairsie | Unknown printer |
| 1899 | Golspie | Unknown printer |
| 1900 | Inverkip | Unknown printer |
| 1900 | Loch Awe | T. Dow |
| 1900 | Tighnabruaich | D. J. McKechnie |
| 1900 | Tayport | Cynicus Publishing Co |