First printing towns from 1508 to 1900
On this page you can trace the geographical spread of printing in Scotland from its beginning in 1508 until 1900. In almost 400 years, 207 printing towns were established across the Scottish mainland.
Until the end of the 18th century, printing was confined to the south and east of Scotland, apart from Inverness and Banff. In the 19th century, printing spread much further. It reached some of the Western and Northern Isles (Cumbrae, Iona, Rothesay and Kirkwall) as well as the North East of Scotland.
Ordered by year. Order by town?
| Year | Town | Printer |
|---|---|---|
| 1508 | Edinburgh | Chepman and Myllar |
| 1552 | St Andrews | John Scot |
| 1571 | Stirling | Robert Lekprevik |
| 1622 | Aberdeen | Edward Raban |
| 1638 | Glasgow | George Anderson |
| 1651 | Leith | Evan Tyler |
| 1685 | Campbeltown | Unknown printer |
| 1685 | Tarbert | Unknown printer |
| 1694 | Maybole | Unknown printer |
| 1711 | Kirkbride | Robert Rae |
| 1715 | Dumfries | Robert Rae |
| 1715 | Perth | Robert Freebairn |
| 1746 | Bannockburn | Unknown printer |
| 1753 | Berwick upon Tweed | R. Taylor |
| 1757 | Dundee | Henry Galbraith (1759) |
| 1766 | Falkirk | Daniel Reid (1775) |
| 1767 | Canongate | Unknown printer |
| 1769 | Dreghorn | Unknown printer |
| 1769 | Paisley | Alexander Weir and Archibald M'Lean |
| 1770 | Peebles | Unknown printer |
| 1774 | Restalrig | James Tytler |
| 1774 | Crieff | J. Taylor, bookseller |
| 1774 | Inverness | Alexander Davidson |
| 1778 | Greenock | William McAlpine |
| 1780 | Kilmarnock | Peter M'Arthur |
| 1782 | Kelso | James Palmer |
| 1783 | Hawick | George Caw |
| 1784 | Montrose | G. Johnston |
| 1785 | Carron | David Reid |
| 1790 | Ayr | John Wilson |
| 1790-1810 | Banff | James Davidson |
| 1793 | Dunse | James Brown |
| 1794 | Kirkcaldy | George Johnston |
| 1797 | Whitburn | John Findlay |
| 1799 | Arbroath | John Findlay |
| 1799 | Sanquhar | T. Brown |
| 1799 | Dunbar | George Miller |
| 1800 | Dunfermline | D. Richardson |
| 1800 | Dalry | John Gemmill |
| 1802 | Cupar | Robert Tullis |
| 1804 | Haddington | George Miller |
| 1805 | Kirkcudbright | Alexander Gordon |
| 1805 | Dalkeith | Published by John Macintosh |
| 1807 | Wigtown | R. Hetherton |
| 1808 | Musselburgh | J. Findlay |
| 1813 | Linlithgow | Alexander Waldie |
| 1815 | Irvine | J. Mennons & Son |
| 1815 | Jedburgh | Walter Easton (1820) |
| 1815 | Auchinleck | James Sutherland (1816) |
| 1815 c. | Inverary | [Thomas Duncan] |
| 1816 | Aquhorties | Seminary Press |
| 1816 | Peterhead | Peter Buchan |
| 1816 | Stranraer | D. Duncan |
| 1817 | Selkirk | Thomas Brown |
| 1817 | Brechin | James Welsh |
| 1817 | Kinghorn | James Birrell |
| 1818 | Kinfauns | Kinfauns Press |
| 1818 | Lanark | William Murray Borthwick |
| 1819 | Beith | Dr J. Gemmill |
| 1820 | Kincardine | W. Liddell |
| 1820 | Hamilton | William Murray Borthwick (1821) |
| 1820 | Saltcoats | Unknown printer |
| 1820 | Newton Stewart | Joseph M'Nairn |
| 1821 | Forfar | Alexander Anderson |
| 1821 | Lochwinnoch | William Taylor |
| 1822 | Annan | Peter Forrest |
| 1823 | Castle Douglas | Anthony Davidson |
| 1824 | Tain | Kenneth Douglas |
| 1826 | Thurso | William Todd |
| 1826 | Orbiston | W. M’Laren |
| 1826 | Dunkeld | Unknown printer |
| 1826 | Largs | Robert Harriston |
| 1828 | Dumbarton | Dumbarton Printing Office |
| 1828 | Orkney | Unknown printer |
| 1829 | Johnstone | Archibald Arnot |
| 1830 | Galashiels | David Fair |
| 1830 | Airdrie | J. and J. Neil |
| 1830 | Wick | William Todd |
| 1831 | Alloa | James Lothian |
| 1831 | Dunblane | Unknown printer |
| 1837 | Coupar Angus | William Liddell |
| 1837 | Forres | John D. Miller |
| 1837 | Lerwick | William Bain |
| 1837 | Stewarton | Thomas Wilson |
| 1838 | Johnshill | Unknown printer |
| 1838 | Dingwall | Unknown printer |
| 1839 | Portobello | J. Johnstone |
| 1840 | Nairn | Unknown printer |
| 1840 | Carluke | R. Langlands |
| 1841 | Aberfeldy | D. Cameron |
| 1843 | Biggar | Unknown printer |
| 1843 | Coatbridge | Baird & Bowskell |
| 1843 | Fintray | John Cumming |
| 1843 | Langholm | Thomas Laidlaw |
| 1843 | Port Glasgow | R. Montgomerie |
| 1843 | Stonehaven | W. Johnson |
| 1844 | Pittenweem | James Scott |
| 1844 | Kirtlebridge | Unknown printer |
| 1844 | Kirkwall | James Urquhart Anderson |
| 1844 | Coldstream | Robert Kerr |
| 1845 | Lesmahagow | George Young |
| 1846 | Kirkintilloch | Wiliam M'Millan |
| 1847 | Kinross | John Taylor |
| 1847 | Lochmaben | Unknown printer |
| 1847 | Rothesay | John Wilson |
| 1848 | Kirriemuir | William B. Mills |
| 1849 | Keith | George Masson |
| 1849 | Gourdon | J. S. Lawson |
| 1849 | Fochabers | Unknown printer |
| 1850 | Rhynie | Troup and Horn |
| 1851 | Renfrew | Alex Gardner |
| 1852 | Fraserburgh | Gordon Lyall |
| 1853 | Lockerbie | D. Halliday |
| 1853 | Ardrossan | Arthur Guthrie |
| 1853 | Burntisland | Pitsligo Press |
| 1853 | Wishaw | Unknown printer |
| 1854 | Partick | A. Ferrie (publ.) |
| 1855 | Invergordon | Hugh Graham |
| 1856 | Girvan | Unknown printer |
| 1856 | Anstruther | Lewis Russell |
| 1857 | Kilmartin | L. Malcolm |
| 1857 | Newburgh | James Wood |
| 1857 | Portsoy | Thomas Anderson |
| 1858 | Moffat | William Muir |
| 1858 | Turriff | Cuddy Skene |
| 1858 | Blairgowrie | David Christie |
| 1859 | Auchterarder | Thomas McQueen |
| 1859 | Strathaven | Alexander Morton |
| 1860 | Bathgate | J. Johnston |
| 1860 | Lochaber | Unknown printer |
| 1860 | Leslie | H. Jollie |
| 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 | Barrhead | Unknown printer |
| 1871 | Tiree | Unknown printer |
| 1871 | Innerleithen | Robert Smail (1888) |
| 1871 (1889) | Cumnock | George McMillan |
| 1872 | Helensburgh | W. Battrum |
| 1873 | Ladykirk | Unknown printer |
| 1873 | Bo'ness | Francis W. Broome |
| 1874 | Carnoustie | Alexander Reid |
| 1875 | Lochearnhead | Unknown printer |
| 1877 | Alva | Unknown printer |
| 1878 | Denny | David Ritchie |
| 1878 | Grangemouth | George G. Stephen |
| 1878 | Rutherglen | J. Kelly |
| 1879 | Stevenston | H. Thomson |
| 1879 | Kintore | Unknown printer |
| 1879 | Tillicoultry | Roxburgh & Rae |
| 1879 | Portlethen | Unknown printer |
| 1880 | Buckie | William Forsyth Johnstone |
| 1880 | Kennoway | printed privately |
| 1881 | Kilbarchan | Unknown printer |
| 1881 | Grantown-on-Spey | Angus Stuart |
| 1881 | Galston | William McDonald & Sons |
| 1881 | Sleat, Skye | Unknown printer |
| 1882 | Kilsyth | D. Drummond Cairns & Co |
| 1883 | Millport | Unknown printer |
| 1883 | Govan | John Cossar |
| 1883 | Colinsburgh | [Robert Dick |
| 1883 | Dalbeattie | Robert Grieve |
| 1884 | Inverurie | Thomas Dare |
| 1884 | Lochgilphead | [George] Higgie and [Robert] Paterson |
| 1884 | Pollockshaws | Barrhead News Publishing Co. |
| 1884 | Monifieth | David Macrae |
| 1885 | West Calder | A.H. Aikman |
| 1885 | Lasswade | Unknown printer |
| 1887 | Iona | W. Muir, J. McCormick |
| 1887 | Uddingston | William Myles |
| 1887 | Pitlochry | A. Doggart |
| 1888 | Queensferry | Queensferry Printing Co. |
| 1888 | Whithorn | Belmont Hall Bazaar |
| 1888 | Bellshill | W. B. Reid |
| 1888 | Brodick | Henry Ribbeck |
| 1889 | Earlston | Thos. Weatherly |
| 1890 | Aboyne | Unknown printer |
| 1890 | Leuchars | Unknown printer |
| 1890 | Newmilns | M. & W. Walker |
| 1891 | Broxburn | Clark & Steel |
| 1891 | Clydebank | John Cossar |
| 1892 | Lochgelly | J. Westwater |
| 1892 | Prestonpans | Unknown printer |
| 1893 | Newhills | Davidson & Sons |
| 1893 | Marykirk | Unknown printer |
| 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 | Troon | R. Young |
| 1898 | Killin | MacWilliam and MacRay |
| 1899 | Golspie | Unknown printer |
| 1899 | Dairsie | Unknown printer |
| 1900 | Inverkip | Unknown printer |
| 1900 | Loch Awe | T. Dow |
| 1900 | Tighnabruaich | D. J. McKechnie |
| 1900 | Tayport | Cynicus Publishing Co |