William Clowes

William Clowes founded a printing firm in 1803 in London.

The firm rapidly expanded, and by 1827 was the largest printing firm in the world.

In 1870, the firm amalgamated with William Moore, a Beccles printer who also owned the Caxton press.

The firm led the field in the development of monotype[?] composition.

In 1984 William Clowes Ltd. opened their Printing Museum to commemorate the granting of a charter to Beccles by Queen Elizabeth I.

The museum houses a large collection of composing, printing and binding equipment, memorabilia and books, including a pivotal type caster invented in the United States by David Bruce in 1838, and a Columbian Press, invented in 1898 by George E. Clymer of Philadelphia.

More to follow........