Tom Paine Printing Press

I am biased (the owner is a friend) but I think this is a lovely little shop. You can buy all sorts of Tom Paine related posters and memorabilia — and art by other local artists.
And there’s a real printing press!
Refreshing in an age of outlet stores selling identical goods.

I was a bit confused when I went into this shop. At the front they have a sort of mini-​gallery of books and pamphlets that have been made either on a printing press, or with relief printing (e.g. woodcuts, lino cuts etc.). As well as the booklets, there is also a workshop space at the back with a printing press. I asked the guy running the shop if he made the art and the booklets at the front, and he said mostly not, but didn’t really expand about what he actually did do in the shop. However, since visiting the website, I have a clearer idea.
The website states: ‘The Tom Pain Press is a not-​for-​profit educational organisation. It is based around a working 18^th-​century-​style wooden ‘common press’, as used to print Paine’s massively influential pamphlets and books’, it is intended to be an educational resource and tourist attraction. The website also says ‘Posters, broadsheets, pamphlets and books are printed on the press, which is also used to instruct students of all ages in the complexities of letterpress technology and the crucial importance of the printed word in disseminating ideas.’ They also intend to use the press to allow local artists to print their works,
It’s a pretty cool project, and I think if school kids were allowed to have a go of printing stuff on the press it would be great fun. I just hope the man that I met in the shop is a bit better at explaining to any children on school trips what it is he does than he was to me.