Welcome to the Bracken Press PRINT-workshop website
Intaglio (etching, drypoint, aquatint)
& block printing & wood engraving
(lino-prints, surface printing) & letterpress
Established 1974.
Britannia Press
BRITANNIA PRESS
MANUFACTURED BY
BENJAMIN PORTER
1830-1850 LEEDS
This example
Bed size :-34.25 inches
Platen Size:- 29.75 x 21 inches
Known as a 'Super Royal'
Benjamin Porter was born on 13th April 1791 in Leeds, married in 1813 and by 1841 was living in Queeen's Square, Leeds.
Porter was listed in Leeds newspapers as a 'whitsmith, a partner to a blacksmith but working with white metals.
Porter's works were in a courtyard - Cross Court - off Brigate in Leeds.
Nameplate from the press at Bracken Press
BRITANNIA PRESS
MANUFACTURED BY
BENJAMIN PORTER
1830-1850 LEEDS
This example
Bed size :-34.25 inches
Platen Size:- 29.75 x 21 inches
Known as a 'Super Royal'
Benjamin Porter was born on 13th April 1791 in Leeds, married in 1813 and by 1841 was living in Queeen's Square, Leeds.
Porter was listed in Leeds newspapers as a 'whitsmith, a partner to a blacksmith but working with white metals.
Porter's works were in a courtyard - Cross Court - off Brigate in Leeds.
List of Britannia Presses known to exist.
1. No 153.
Super Roysal Platen 29 x 21
1850 Benjamin Porter, Leeds
Leeds Industrial Museum
2. No 33.
Crown Broadside Platen 21 x 16 1870 John Oldroyd
White Horse Yard Leeds
Leaf Spring return
Leeds Industrial Museum
3. No 365.
B. Porter Leeds
1835 Counter Weight.
Coat of Arms and Unicorn supporters missing.
Science Museum, London.
4. No. 448
Platen 25.5 x 19.5 B.Porter Leeds
Lacks tympan.
John Rylands Libary, Manchester.
5. No 552
Platen 26 x 20 B.Porter Leeds
Museum of Science, Manchester
No. 6. No 598
Platen 18.5 x 14.25
B.Porter Leeds
Leaf spring return.
Missing ...leg, coat of arms (base remains), both decorative finials.
Craven Museum, Skipton.
From local newspaper.
7. No. 449
Platen 18.5 x 14.25
leaf spring return.
Coat of Arms.
(Copied from Science Museum), no lion and unicorn supporters.
Carlisle College of Art
No. 8.
No number, brass plate missing
B.Porter Leeds
Platen Foolscap Folio,
counter weight.
Tympan. No coat of arms, base remains.
Wordworth Trust, Grasmere.
Used once a year by Ian Bain to print Bewick Blocks.
Counter weight would seem to indicate an early version.
No. 9.
No number but has brass plate.
B.Porter , Leeds
Platen 34 x 22.
Counterweight. Coat of Arms.
From Pately Bridge in Yorkshire
Possibly No 1.
Prism assisted purchase.
The printing Museum, Cockermouth, Cumbria.
10. No.205
B.Porter Leeds.
B.Foster, Bitteswell, Leictershire.
11.
No number but has the brass plate.
B.Porter, Leeds
Platen 29.75 x 21
Counterweight.
Missing, coat of arms & tympan
Location:-
Bracken Press, Scalby, Scarborough
No 12.
B.Porter, Leeds
Location:-
Scarborough College.
Britannia Press in its past location
before refurbishment.
If you know of any other Britannia Printing Presses and would like to add to this list please do get in contact.