Tuesday, 28th February 2023
Rebirth of the Abbey Press
People often hear of the treasures hidden in New Norcia, relics of its 177-year history. “What lies behind the doors” is encrypted in the town tours and the curiosity of travellers passing through this one-of-a-kind monastic town. The ornate chapel inside the Byzantine splendour of St Ildephonsus’ College is one breathtaking example of behind-the-doors marvels that can satiate the intellectual curiosities of the many visitors to the town.
But what of the lesser-known, not-so-spectacular treasures lying in the recesses of our storied past? Like the murky catacombs of the archive or the dank cellar where olives and oak-vatted wines cure (sorry, both are out of bounds for most monastery guests).
The Abbey Press is one such relic, and thanks to two enterprising British printers, it’s now waiting to be discovered by anyone interested in out-of-the-box curios. Claire and David Bolton, owners of a vintage press in the UK that prints limited edition books by traditional letterpress, happened upon New Norcia ten years ago, on a day tour from visiting family in Margaret River. One thing led to another and, due to their scholarly background in the industry (Claire has a doctorate in 15th C printing history), they were given access to the dust-covered room in the Education Centre that once was the home of Abbey Press. Their mouths dropped.
Long story short: the Bolton’s have spent the past decade cleaning the place up, first with a major dust-up and scrubbing, then placing the old printing machines in an orderly fashion, salvaging some from the old farm shed down the hill, and finally, strategically organising and cataloguing the comprehensive library of typefaces, some so rare as to be museum pieces in Australia. In short, they’ve turned a sleeping giant into a shining jewel of New Norcia’s printing past.
The history of the press started early in the 20th century with some enterprising monks interested in bookbinding, a craft often employed by European monasteries as a revenue source. They bound, among other things, Victorian novels, some of which still exist in the monastery library. They would go on to become the 'in-house' printshop for the diocese, monastery, schools, farm, vineyard, plus they printed almost everything New Norcia needed in everyday life.
The press continued with various ups and downs until the advent of the digital age, at which time the formidable machines and accoutrement that operated the monastic press for just short of a century came to a standstill. When the Bolton’s discovered the equipment 20+ years on, it was covered in layers of dust and detritus from rodent and ant invasions. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work.
“It wasn’t until we got into it that I realised how rare and precious this collection is,” Claire said. “It’s an important part of not just the history of the Benedictine Community but of Australian printing heritage”. She’s emphatic: “It’s not just another print shop. The work we’ve done on it has been curatorial”.
After untold hours of cleaning, sorting and cataloguing, and with financial support from the Community, the press is now fully functioning once again. Those lucky enough to get a peak inside will find a wealth of curios, all neatly displayed, with large interpretive panels describing the press’s history and activity. On their annual visits to Australia, the Boltons spend time in the Press room, producing unique stationery items for the Museum gift shop and running workshops attended by graphic design students, print professionals and hobbyists with a keen interest in the fading artform.
The Boltons would like to see the display put to greater use by including it in the popular town tours and by having regular, pre-announced Open Days for special functions or the general public. Other options include making the space available for artist-in-residence programs or a volunteer program for hobbyists and retired people who would regularly monitor the display as part of the self-guided tour options available for visitors to New Norcia.
Whatever happens, the Boltons want to get the word out, hoping to hand the baton to equally enthusiastic supporters of the historic press. Their retirement plans don’t include the frequent trips to Australia they’ve enjoyed over the past decade, so finding people willing to volunteer their efforts to keep the press open and available is paramount. Looking for a way to satiate your own curiosity appetite? Contact the Boltons through their website, http://alembicpress.co.uk/.
For further information on the Abbey Press, read Dr Bolton’s article, “The Abbey Press, New Norcia: History & Type Specimens of a Monastic Printshop”, New Norcia Studies, No. 26, 2019, pp. 75-90.
See also, J Oakland, “The Abbey Press: New Norcia’s Printing and Publishing History”, New Norcia Studies, No. 28, 2022, pp. 51-58.
