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 town. Order by year?
| Town | Year | Printer |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 1622 | Edward Raban |
| Aberfeldy | 1841 | D. Cameron |
| Aboyne | 1890 | Unknown printer |
| Airdrie | 1830 | J. and J. Neil |
| Alloa | 1831 | James Lothian |
| Alva | 1877 | Unknown printer |
| Alyth | 1869 | Thomas M'Murray and George Milne |
| Annan | 1822 | Peter Forrest |
| Anstruther | 1856 | Lewis Russell |
| Aquhorties | 1816 | Seminary Press |
| Arbroath | 1799 | John Findlay |
| Ardrossan | 1853 | Arthur Guthrie |
| Auchinleck | 1815 | James Sutherland (1816) |
| Auchterarder | 1859 | Thomas McQueen |
| Ayr | 1790 | John Wilson |
| Baillieston | 1896 | George Hutcheson & Co. |
| Banff | 1790-1810 | James Davidson |
| Bannockburn | 1746 | Unknown printer |
| Barrhead | 1871 | Unknown printer |
| Bathgate | 1860 | J. Johnston |
| Beith | 1819 | Dr J. Gemmill |
| Bellshill | 1888 | W. B. Reid |
| Berwick upon Tweed | 1753 | R. Taylor |
| Biggar | 1843 | Unknown printer |
| Blairgowrie | 1858 | David Christie |
| Bo'ness | 1873 | Francis W. Broome |
| Brechin | 1817 | James Welsh |
| 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 |
| Campbeltown | 1685 | Unknown printer |
| Canongate | 1767 | Unknown printer |
| Carluke | 1840 | R. Langlands |
| Carnoustie | 1874 | Alexander Reid |
| Carron | 1785 | David Reid |
| Castle Douglas | 1823 | Anthony Davidson |
| Clydebank | 1891 | John Cossar |
| Coatbridge | 1843 | Baird & Bowskell |
| Coldstream | 1844 | Robert Kerr |
| Colinsburgh | 1883 | [Robert Dick |
| Coupar Angus | 1837 | William Liddell |
| Crieff | 1774 | J. Taylor, bookseller |
| Cumbrae (Isle of) | 1865 | Garrison Press |
| Cumnock | 1871 (1889) | George McMillan |
| Cupar | 1802 | Robert Tullis |
| Dairsie | 1899 | Unknown printer |
| Dalbeattie | 1883 | Robert Grieve |
| Dalkeith | 1805 | Published by John Macintosh |
| Dalry | 1800 | John Gemmill |
| Denny | 1878 | David Ritchie |
| Dingwall | 1838 | Unknown printer |
| Dreghorn | 1769 | Unknown printer |
| Dufftown | 1894 | James Ingram |
| Dumbarton | 1828 | Dumbarton Printing Office |
| Dumfries | 1715 | Robert Rae |
| Dunbar | 1799 | George Miller |
| Dunblane | 1831 | Unknown printer |
| Dundee | 1757 | Henry Galbraith (1759) |
| Dunfermline | 1800 | D. Richardson |
| Dunkeld | 1826 | Unknown printer |
| Dunoon | 1868 | John Colegate |
| Dunse | 1793 | James Brown |
| Earlston | 1889 | Thos. Weatherly |
| Edinburgh | 1508 | Chepman and Myllar |
| Falkirk | 1766 | Daniel Reid (1775) |
| Fintray | 1843 | John Cumming |
| Fochabers | 1849 | Unknown printer |
| 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 |
| Glasgow | 1638 | George Anderson |
| Golspie | 1899 | Unknown printer |
| Gourdon | 1849 | J. S. Lawson |
| Govan | 1883 | John Cossar |
| Grangemouth | 1878 | George G. Stephen |
| Grantown-on-Spey | 1881 | Angus Stuart |
| Greenock | 1778 | William McAlpine |
| Haddington | 1804 | George Miller |
| Hamilton | 1820 | William Murray Borthwick (1821) |
| Hawick | 1783 | George Caw |
| Helensburgh | 1872 | W. Battrum |
| Huntly | 1863 | Adam Dunbar |
| Inchgarvie | 1867 | Benjamin Franklin |
| Innerleithen | 1871 | Robert Smail (1888) |
| Inverary | 1815 c. | [Thomas Duncan] |
| Invergordon | 1855 | Hugh Graham |
| Inverkip | 1900 | Unknown printer |
| Inverness | 1774 | Alexander Davidson |
| Inverurie | 1884 | Thomas Dare |
| Iona | 1887 | W. Muir, J. McCormick |
| Irvine | 1815 | J. Mennons & Son |
| Jedburgh | 1815 | Walter Easton (1820) |
| Johnshill | 1838 | Unknown printer |
| Johnstone | 1829 | Archibald Arnot |
| Keith | 1849 | George Masson |
| Kelso | 1782 | James Palmer |
| Kennoway | 1880 | printed privately |
| Kilbarchan | 1881 | Unknown printer |
| Killin | 1898 | MacWilliam and MacRay |
| Kilmarnock | 1780 | Peter M'Arthur |
| Kilmartin | 1857 | L. Malcolm |
| Kilsyth | 1882 | D. Drummond Cairns & Co |
| Kilwinning | 1861 | A. W. Cross |
| Kincardine | 1820 | W. Liddell |
| Kinfauns | 1818 | Kinfauns Press |
| Kinghorn | 1817 | James Birrell |
| Kinross | 1847 | John Taylor |
| Kintore | 1879 | Unknown printer |
| Kirkbride | 1711 | Robert Rae |
| Kirkcaldy | 1794 | George Johnston |
| Kirkcudbright | 1805 | Alexander Gordon |
| Kirkintilloch | 1846 | Wiliam M'Millan |
| Kirkwall | 1844 | James Urquhart Anderson |
| Kirriemuir | 1848 | William B. Mills |
| Kirtlebridge | 1844 | Unknown printer |
| Ladykirk | 1873 | Unknown printer |
| Lanark | 1818 | William Murray Borthwick |
| Langholm | 1843 | Thomas Laidlaw |
| Largs | 1826 | Robert Harriston |
| Lasswade | 1885 | Unknown printer |
| Leith | 1651 | Evan Tyler |
| Lerwick | 1837 | William Bain |
| Leslie | 1860 | H. Jollie |
| Lesmahagow | 1845 | George Young |
| Leuchars | 1890 | Unknown printer |
| Leven | 1860 | T. Porter |
| Linlithgow | 1813 | Alexander Waldie |
| Loch Awe | 1900 | T. Dow |
| Lochaber | 1860 | Unknown printer |
| Lochearnhead | 1875 | 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 |
| Marykirk | 1893 | Unknown printer |
| Maybole | 1694 | Unknown printer |
| Millport | 1883 | Unknown printer |
| Moffat | 1858 | William Muir |
| Monifieth | 1884 | David Macrae |
| Montrose | 1784 | G. Johnston |
| 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 |
| Newton Stewart | 1820 | Joseph M'Nairn |
| North Berwick | 1871 | Haddingtonshire Journal Steam Printing Works |
| Oban | 1861 | James Miller |
| Orbiston | 1826 | W. M’Laren |
| Orkney | 1828 | Unknown printer |
| Paisley | 1769 | Alexander Weir and Archibald M'Lean |
| Partick | 1854 | A. Ferrie (publ.) |
| Peebles | 1770 | Unknown printer |
| Perth | 1715 | Robert Freebairn |
| Peterhead | 1816 | Peter Buchan |
| Pitlochry | 1887 | A. Doggart |
| Pittenweem | 1844 | James Scott |
| Pollockshaws | 1884 | Barrhead News Publishing Co. |
| Port Glasgow | 1843 | R. Montgomerie |
| Portlethen | 1879 | Unknown printer |
| Portobello | 1839 | J. Johnstone |
| Portsoy | 1857 | Thomas Anderson |
| Prestonpans | 1892 | Unknown printer |
| Pulteneytown | 1863 | John George |
| Queensferry | 1888 | Queensferry Printing Co. |
| Renfrew | 1851 | Alex Gardner |
| Restalrig | 1774 | James Tytler |
| Rhynie | 1850 | Troup and Horn |
| Rothesay | 1847 | John Wilson |
| Rutherglen | 1878 | J. Kelly |
| Saltcoats | 1820 | Unknown printer |
| Sandbank | 1870 | J.E. & R. Inglis |
| Sanquhar | 1799 | T. Brown |
| Selkirk | 1817 | Thomas Brown |
| Sleat, Skye | 1881 | Unknown printer |
| St Andrews | 1552 | John Scot |
| Stevenston | 1879 | H. Thomson |
| Stewarton | 1837 | Thomas Wilson |
| Stirling | 1571 | Robert Lekprevik |
| Stonehaven | 1843 | W. Johnson |
| Stow | 1897 | Sanderson & Son |
| Stranraer | 1816 | D. Duncan |
| Strathaven | 1859 | Alexander Morton |
| Tain | 1824 | Kenneth Douglas |
| Tarbert | 1685 | Unknown printer |
| 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 |
| Whitburn | 1797 | John Findlay |
| Whithorn | 1888 | Belmont Hall Bazaar |
| Wick | 1830 | William Todd |
| Wigtown | 1807 | R. Hetherton |
| Wishaw | 1853 | Unknown printer |