A heritage which shapes our future
Our Story
Modesty aside, it’s quite an achievement to celebrate 150 years in printing.
It all started as far back as 1873 in Leominster’s home for orphaned children and with the enlightened purchase of a printing press. The man with the entrepreneurial flair was Henry Stanley Newman, a fascinating character with a globe trotting spirit. A devout Quaker, he saw the printing venture as both a way to provide his orphans with a trade but also a handy means of spreading the Quaker message with the publication of ‘tracts’, compact booklets of teachings. The Orphans Printing Press was soon generating much needed income to sustain the home.
1869
Henry Stanley Newman opens a home for the town’s orphans, many of whom started life in cities. The building is still there, sadly without its original orchards, but is put to good use as housing association flats.
1873
Now Mr Newman puts the orphans to work! What better way to teach them a trade and generate some much needed revenue than to invest in a printing press. A mainstay was the publication of numerous tracts (slim booklets) of Quaker teachings (Henry was a devout Quaker).
1908
The business soon outgrows its original home on Broad Street. A purpose-built, light and airy printing works is built, on ground which was part of Henry Stanley’s garden.
1918
Leominster Orphan Homes and Orphans Press part ways after 45 years. Orphans Press continues under private ownership
1971
Orphans Press acquires Leominster Printing Company, previously situated in Drapers Lane. Two years later, Orphans purchases Tenbury Press, which continues to operate independently until 2001.
1979
Under the ownership of Mary Ford, the business moves a mile or so from the town centre to a former laundry. The bigger premises provided space for expansion and new machinery. Still close enough for many staff to cycle home for lunch.
1996
Orphans Press acquires Davis Brothers on School Lane.
1997
Helen and Andy Bowden, the current custodians, take over the Orphans Printing Press in 1997 from Mary, Helen’s aunt.
2007
Laundry Lane is starting to fray at the very time the business is evolving new design and web services. We head the queue for a plot on the all new Enterprise Park. Our new home feels instantly like a place to shape a business for the 21st century. Henry Stanley Newman would surely have approved.
2012
Diamond Day.
2019
Orphans acquires Impact Print and Design in Hereford.
2022
Orphans acquires Whitley Printing Company.
2023
Investing in a new state-of-the-art HP Indigo digital printer
Present Day
The past 25 years has seen Orphans transformed into one of the region’s most substantial printers together with the rapid development of new and complementary printing areas; book publishing (Orphans Publishing), and a rapidly expanding website design, development and marketing agency, eighteen73, an homage to the origins of Orphans, but very much a service of today. We’re a family of business services, all under the one umbrella. Welcome to Orphans.
We love our history (and please enjoy some of the touching anecdotes and early examples of printing here). Perhaps one of the secrets of the business longevity has been not spending too much time looking back nostalgically but rather keeping a keen eye on the current and future. That’s why when you step into Orphans today you will see a business geared for efficiency with digital technology and streamlined processes.
