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