A Summer Affair in the Cotswolds

Up and down the country the summer brings forth the village fete. Morris dancers, dog shows, biggest vegetables, most delicious cake. A hog roast, hoopla and bric-à-brac stalls, bouncy castles for the children, donkey rides, and afternoon teas on the lawn.

However, this Cotswold village fete has one very big difference, separate from the many fete attractions. The Manor House opens it's doors to the public along with it's very fine Printing Press in the outbuildings. It shows off its latest work with displays of printing and typecasting.

In the gardens scattered around under a canopy of trees are an array of visiting printers, binders, marblers, wood and linocut engravers and handmade paper-makers from all over the country; displaying the myriad skills that go into the production of a handprinted, limited edition book. Stalls of these fine books sell their wares. However, a big fat wallet is required to secure a limited edition, hand bound book in leather. It is a mecca for purists from far and wide seeking something rather special from under these ancient bunting clad trees.

Most of the Private Press stalls had their latest prospectus of forthcoming books. One pamphlet revealed a book by our sons, poems by eldest son, illustrated by youngest son. The finished book could still be a long time in the pipeline. Youngest son's linocuts use 3/4/ or 5 colours each having a different linocut. The Victorian Press needs to be reset for each colour just to produce a single illustration. The book will be a limited edition of 200 copies.