Heritage

Please take a look at 166 years of key milestones and events below, from Queen Victoria’s reign, through two world wars to the present. A series of firsts, coupled with technological innovation and great books, lay the foundations for the company you see today. This is why Butler Tanner & Dennis is still the UK’s leading book and publications printer and intends to carry on that fine tradition for many years to come.

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  • 1845

    • The Steam Works

      1857 - The Steam Works

    • Early advertising bill for Robinson's
    • Joseph Tanner

      Joseph Tanner

    • Bronze Medal

      1868 - Bronze medal, The Paris Exhibition

    • Russell Tanner

      Russell Tanner

    • 1845

      Originally from High Wycombe, WT Butler opens his first printing press in Mansford Yard, Bath Street, Frome.

    • 1854

      The company moves to Selwood Printing Works in Trinity Street, Frome.

    • 1857

      Steam power was introduced and the company was renamed WT Butler's Steam Printing Works. A staff of two men and 5 boys ran the presses. The well known Robinson's (latterly barley water) and Ferris of Bristol, who were chemists to The Queen, were clients.

    • 1863

      Tanner worked at Sheppards Mill but discouraged by the weaving industry moving north, went into partnership with WT Butler. Tanner managed the business in Frome, whilst Butler opened a London office. The concept of 'One-stop shopping' for publishers is developed. A prime objective of the business was a contribution to the wellbeing of the Frome community.

    • 1867

      WT Butler retires from the business.

    • 1889

      Arabian Nights was printed for Constable, but main customers at this time were religious publishers, churches and charities. Other clients of note were: Hodder & Stoughton, Dr. Barnado and The Rev. William Booth (founder of The Salvation Army).

    • 1895

      Printing output was 13.5 million sheets per year. Joseph Tanner died leaving the business to sons Russell and Lanfear.

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  • 1900

    • The Selwood Printing Works

      1905 - The Selwood Printing Works

    • The Speckled Band, An Advernture of Sherlock Holmes

      1912 - The Speckled Band, An Advernture of Sherlock Holmes

    • Donald Tanner

      1927 - Donald Tanner

    • The Well of Loneliness

      1928 - The Well of Loneliness

    • Ariel

      1935 - Ariel

    • Holiday Haunts

      1947 - Holiday Haunts

    • 1904

      Mains electricity replaced steam to power the presses. The company printed 32 magazines, mostly of religious content.

    • 1907

      The company purchased eight acres of land (Adderwell) adjacent to the railway, now the existing premises at Caxton Road.

    • 1909

      The company started to move it's printing machinery into the Caxton Road premises. This continued on into the 1930's.

    • 1910

      Butler & Tanner's first large format press called 'Dreadnought' was installed. Capable of printing 224 pages per revolution and delivering up to seven 32 page folded sections. An innovation in its day, it printed the original AA Handbook.

    • 1912

      Integration of letterpress and photogravure printing processes. An experiment that failed - the specially adapted press was eventually sold for stamp printing.

    • 1923

      Lanfear Tanner dies, and the partnership becomes a limited company with Ellen and Russell Tanner becoming principal shareholders. Russell was Chairman, Humphry and cousin Donald were joint managing directors.

    • 1927

      Donald Tanner was killed in an air crash and the following year Russell also passed away leaving Humphry Tanner as Chairman, Managing Director and Secretary. Ellen Tanner was the other director.

    • 1928

      Humphry Tanner decides to develop the book manufacturing arm of the business, investing in larger and larger presses. By 1935 B&T had 20 of the largest printing machines in the UK, if not in the world. A close working relationship developed with publishers Jonathan Cape at this time. A notable publication for Cape books was Radclyffe Hall's, 'The Well of Loneliness'.

    • 1935

      The first Penguin paperbacks were printed. Ten titles were published simultaneously, including 'Ariel' by Andre Maurois and novels by Ernest Hemingway, Eric Linklater and Agatha Christie. They cost sixpence each - the same price as a packet of cigarettes.

    • 1936

      B&T first to investigate film-setting and offset lithography.

    • 1937

      B&T join the Federation of Master Printers.

    • 1938

      In the shadow of the coming war, publishers sales to bookshops dropped by some 25%.

    • 1939

      The entire board of B&T are called up for war duties and the company is requisitioned to manufacture aero engines.

    • 1947

      B&T's factory is returned from war service and reprints 'Holiday Haunts' for the Great Western Railway.

    • 1948

      B&T close the Trinity Street premises. Joe Tanner joins the Company.

    • 1949

      Alan Steele elected to the Board, to become the Company's longest serving Sales Director.

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  • 1950

    • The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

      1950 - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

    • Ward Lock�s guides, B&T printed these guides from the 1880s to around 1970

      1950 - Ward Lock's guides, B&T printed these guides from the 1880s to around 1970

    • The Spirit of St. Louis

      1953 - The Spirit of St. Louis

    • Dr. No, James Bond

      1965 - Dr. No, James Bond

    • Field Marshall Montgomery
    • A History of Warfare

      1969 - Field Marshall Montgomery visits to see his book 'A History of Warfare' being bound

    • The Prime Minister, Harold Wilson

      1976 - The Prime Minister, Harold Wilson came to sign copies for a book club

    • The Governance of Britain

      1976 - 'The Governance of Britain' by The Prime Minister, Harold Wilson

    • Delia Smith visits Frome

      1994 - Delia Smith visits Frome

    • 1950

      Humphry Tanner dies and Captain C C Flemming is appointed Managing Director.

    • 1951

      50% of B&T's directors were women. The company makes a successful shift from general to educational publishers.

    • 1953

      First books printed for the Folio Society.

    • 1954

      B&T typeset and print 'The Letters of Oscar Wilde', a 900 page book, for Rupert Hart-Davies.

    • 1956

      Joe Tanner becomes a director

    • 1958

      J A 'Peter' Cochrane and James Wainwright appointed to the Board. A letterpress web press was installed called 'The Bristolian'.

    • 1966

      B&T purchased its first two colour offset press from Crabtree Vickers. Bought shares in St Pauls Press in Malta.

    • 1969

      Joe Tanner becomes Chairman and Ian Campbell joins the Board. The 'History of Warfare' was printed and Field Marshall Montgomery visits B&T to see his book being bound.

    • 1970

      Who's Who produced, the first for many years to come.

    • 1971

      Michael Harman elected to Board.

    • 1976

      'The Governance of Britain' by The Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, was printed. He came to Frome to sign copies for a book club.

    • 1978

      Hot metal and letterpress printing closed. Film setting and offset litho had reduced lead times dramatically.

    • 1981

      Mike Harman becomes Managing Director. Peter Maunder is promoted to Works Director and Adrian Huett to Sales Director. The Company battles to survive in the face of soaring inflation and the strong Pound.

    • 1986

      Purchased Lawrence Allen and passed the £1million profit mark for the first time. Printed the Royal Wedding (Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson) book for Weidenfeld.

    • 1987

      First Roland 7B 4 colour large format press installed. A brand new printing hall was built to accommodate the Company's development into four colour printing. First colour book 'Matchroom Snooker' for Michael Joseph, soon followed by the epic 'History of Christianity' for Oxford University Press.

    • 1988

      Mike Harman retires and Peter Maunder and Adrian Huett appointed Joint Managing Directors.

    • 1989

      B&T make a clean sweep at the Kodak awards.

    • 1990

      B&T feature on the TV programme 'Challenge Anneka' producing a joke book in record time.

    • 1992

      Radstock Reproductions was purchased, moving the Company into colour reproduction and pre-press.

    • 1993

      Third Roland four colour press opened by Delia Smith. Pre tax profits exceed £1.5 million for first time.

    • 1994

      Joe Tanner retires as Chairman after a 25 year reign.

    • 1995

      New York office was established, eventually to contribute $10 million per annum to turnover. Lloyds Register Printing Services purchased and renamed Selwood Printing. Group Turnover exceeds £40 million with profits above £3 million.

    • 1996

      B&T chosen as 'Printer of the year'. Produced 1.7 million copies of Delia Smith's 'Winter Collection'.

    • 1998

      First digital press was installed - an Infoprint monochrome web supplied by IBM.

    • 1999

      B&T entered corporate and commercial print markets. By 2006 the new markets contributed 40% of Company turnover. Customers included Marks & Spencer, RBS, Vodafone, BG, HSBC, Trinity Mirror, Siemens and Egg.

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  • 2000

    • Delia's Winter Collection

      2001 - Delia's Winter Collection

    • The book of ideas

      2003 - The book of ideas

    • Joe Tanner obituary

      2006 - Joe Tanner obituary

    • Jamie�s Italy

      2007 - Jamie�s Italy

    • Lewis Hamilton, Special Celebration Edition

      2008 - Lewis Hamilton, Special Celebration Edition

    • 2000

      Kevin Sarney was appointed Production Director at subsidiary company, Lawrence Allen.

    • 2001

      Profits in the month of November, exceed £1 million. The Company produced a new Delia Smith book and reprints of Jamie Oliver.

    • 2002

      Colour digital printing was introduced.

    • 2003

      Two KBA perfectors were installed completing a total of 7 KBA presses in as many years. Peter Maunder steps down as Joint MD, succeeds Mike Harman as non executive Chairman. Kevin Sarney appointed Operations Director.

    • 2004

      Rapid downturn in European colour book manufacturing, caused by massive expansion in China.

    • 2006

      Joe Tanner dies

    • 2008

      In the last decade B&T have won 30 industry awards in recognition of its expertise in the manufacture of books, Brochures, Corporate Reports, Fine Art catalogues and digital printing. Heralding a new future, B&T changed it's name to Butler Tanner & Dennis with entrepreneur and major investor, Felix Dennis becoming Chairman and Kevin Sarney, Managing Director

    • 2009

      The Company celebrates 100 years of printing at Caxton Road

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