The Print Industry of South Wales: A Chronicle of Cultural and Economic Resilience
Nestled within the rugged landscapes and industrial heartlands of South Wales lies a story of ink, paper, and perseverance. The print industry, though often overshadowed by coal and steel, has been a cornerstone of Welsh culture and economy for centuries. Beyond the collieries and steelworks, the clatter of presses and the scent of ink have woven themselves into the fabric of Welsh identity. For over three centuries, printing in South Wales has been a quiet revolution—preserving language, fuelling dissent and adapting to the tides of change. This is the story of an industry that refused to fade, sustained by resilient family firms and innovators who blend tradition with tomorrow.
Early Beginnings: From Chapels to Chapbooks
The story begins in the late 1600s, when itinerant printers, often linked to Nonconformist chapels, roamed South Wales. These early presses were tools of rebellion and faith.
The First Welsh-Language Prints: In 1718, Y Bibl Cyssegr-lan—the first complete Welsh Bible—was printed in Carmarthen by John Rhydderch, a self-taught printer. This monumental work safeguarded the Welsh language during a time of English cultural dominance.
Swansea’s Radical Roots: By 1804, Swansea became home to The Cambrian, Wales’ first newspaper. Its pages mixed shipping news with fiery editorials supporting workers’ rights, setting a precedent for the region’s politically charged print culture.
Secret Presses of the Valleys: Hidden in back rooms of Merthyr Tydfil chapels, radical printers like Morgan Howells produced pamphlets for the 1831 Merthyr Rising, demanding fair wages. One surviving leaflet, “Bread or Blood”, is now displayed at Cyfarthfa Castle Museum.
2. Industrial Revolution: Ink, Iron, and the Forging of a Voice
The 19th century transformed South Wales into an industrial titan, and printing rode the coattails of coal and iron.
Newspapers as Community Anchors: The Western Mail, founded in 1869 by coal magnate John Crichton-Stuart, became known as “The National Newspaper of Wales”. Its 1893 headline, “Disaster at Tylorstown”, chronicled a colliery explosion with unrivaled detail, selling out within hours.
The Rise of Union Literature: Printers in the Rhondda Valley became unofficial scribes for miners’ unions. The South Wales Miners’ Federation circulated strike notices and solidarity songs, like “We Keep Step With the World”, printed on flimsy broadsheets still cherished by descendants.
Eccentric Entrepreneurs: David Williams, a Carmarthen printer, earned the nickname “Black David” for his habit of testing ink quality by smudging it on his forehead. His 1880s almanacs, packed with weather lore and farming tips, remain collector’s items.
3. Cultural Catalyst: Ink as the Keeper of Welsh Identity
Printing didn’t just inform—it defined Welshness.
Eisteddfod and the Printed Word: The 1819 Carmarthen Eisteddfod program, printed on a hand-cranked press, listed competitions for awdlau (poems) and harp solos. Winners’ works were published in Y Gwyliedydd, a journal that became a cultural lifeline.
The Socialist Press of Tonypandy: In 1910, during the Tonypandy Riots, the Rhondda Socialist Society distributed leaflets urging calm, signed simply “From the Printers of the Valley”. These rare pamphlets, printed on recycled mine ledger paper, are now archived at St Fagans Museum.
Dylan Thomas’ Debt to Printers: The Swansea-born poet’s first collection, 18 Poems (1934), was printed locally by the Penmark Press, whose owner, Gwyn Evans, waived fees after Thomas promised to “drink the shop dry in publicity”. A first edition, stained with ale, reportedly survives in a Laugharne pub.
4. Economic Engine: From Coal to CMYK
At its zenith, South Wales’ print industry employed over 10,000, with clusters in Cardiff, Newport, and the Valleys.
The Cardiff Times Boom: Founded in 1857, this weekly employed 200 workers by 1900, its presses running day and night to meet demand for gossip columns and serialized novels. Its former headquarters on St Mary Street now houses a cocktail bar—though old lead type still turns up in the cellar.
Wartime Ingenuity: During WWII, Cardiff’s Western Press pivoted to printing ration books and propaganda posters. One employee, Mair Jones, famously smuggled anti-Nazi leaflets into tea chests bound for occupied Europe.
The 1980s Survivalists: As coal collapsed, firms like Bridgend’s Dragon Press reinvented themselves, printing labels for Brains Beer and promotional materials for the nascent Cardiff Bay Development Corporation.
5. Family Firms and Forward Thinkers
South Wales’ print industry thrives on family-run businesses that balance heritage with innovation.
Legacy of Craft: Many firms trace their roots to post-war entrepreneurs who salvaged machinery from shuttered factories. One such enterprise, now a third-generation Cardiff printer, began in a garage with a refurbished Heidelberg press, serving local butchers and bakeries with handbills.
Digital Pioneers: In the 1990s, forward-thinking companies embraced digital printing early, becoming key suppliers for bilingual government materials and educational resources. Their adaptability ensured survival in the face of globalization.
Green Innovators: Today, eco-conscious printers use algae-based inks and paper from Port Talbot’s Greenfield Mill, a facility once dedicated to coal-era ledgers. Seed-embedded wedding programs and compostable packaging reflect a commitment to sustainability.
6. Modern Metamorphosis: The Digital and Sustainable Age
South Wales’ printers have embraced change without erasing the past.
Hybrid Craftsmanship: Gomer Press in Llandysul, founded in 1892, pairs antique letterpresses with laser cutters for limited-edition poetry books. Their 2022 “Welsh Women’s Voices” anthology featured gold-foiled covers pressed on a 1912 Kluge.
Eco-Innovators: Cavalier Print in Bridgend, once a coal industry supplier, now produces compostable packaging for Tŷ Nant spring water. Their secret? Ink made from crushed Carmarthenshire beetroot.
Tech Collaborations: Cardiff University’s Centre for Print Research partners with local firms to trial 3D-printed braille menus for Welsh restaurants, blending tradition with cutting-edge tech.
7. Cultural Legacy: The Unbroken Chain
Printing remains the guardian of Welsh memory.
The Mabinogion’s Revival: In 1977, Llandysul’s Gwasg Dinefwr printed a Welsh-English edition of the medieval tales, sparking a folk revival. Copies were sold door-to-door by students in faux-medieval garb.
Punk Rock Posters: The 1980s Cardiff punk scene relied on Grangetown Print Collective for gig posters. A 1984 flyer for The Oppressed, screen-printed over a defunct miners’ strike leaflet, hangs in the National Museum.
Indie Publishers: Parthian Books, based in Aberteifi, prints works by Welsh writers like Cynan Jones, ensuring the region’s literary voice stays bold.
8. Economic Impact: Numbers with a Narrative
Printing contributes £200 million annually to Wales’ economy, with South Wales accounting for 70%.
Jobs with Roots: Family-run firms employ generations of locals, blending old-world skills with modern tech. Press operators often train apprentices in both digital workflows and traditional lithography, preserving craftsmanship.
Tourism’s Hidden Ally: From Big Pit guidebooks to Cardiff Castle tickets, local printers underpin heritage tourism.
Global Reach, Local Heart: Multinationals like St Ives Group in Caerphilly print merchandise for global franchises but maintain apprenticeship programs rooted in Welsh tradition.
Pressing Forward
The print industry of South Wales is a testament to adaptability. From inking revolutionary pamphlets to pioneering green technologies, it has mirrored Wales’ journey—rooted in community, yet globally minded. As digital and sustainable trends reshape the field, South Wales’ printers continue to weave the narrative of a nation, one page at a time.
Cynhaliwch y ffagl (Keep the torch burning).