G H Smith & Son started in September 1866 in the market town of Easingwold, Yorkshire. It was started by Leonard Smith and his son George Hudson Smith and was originally called L & G H Smith, Printers. They had bought associated print machinery from John and Joseph Smith, also of Easingwold.
George managed to combine this interest with his other responsibilities as postmaster, ropemaker, and the innkeeper of the Fleece Inn on Long Street. In 1870, George transferred the Post Office to the Market Place – where the HSBC Bank now stands (then, the Yorkshire Bank). From this site he also sold wine, spirits, and pianos.
This extraordinarily enterprising man also established the printing works in the cottages behind – through the ginnel in the corner, known as the ‘Post Office Slip’. The works were called the Bremmer Printing Works – named after the massive gas-powered printing presses.
In the mid-1950s the second George Smith and his son David bought the Town Hall, an imposing Victorian building situated in the centre of the market place. It was here the company relocated its business in 1962 and has been operating from this facility ever since.
During the last 50 years here at G H Smith & Son we have witnessed the transition from hot metal (plus hand) setting, to early photo typesetters of the mid 1970’s, through to today’s generation of dtp software programs and digital platesetters. Print has envolved from letterpress to Lithographic offset printing and the digital revolution enabled the move to full colour.
