END OF OLD PAUL’S WORK
James Ballantyne was not in good health for some years before his death
in 1833. During that time, as we have seen, he was assisted by his
brother Alexander and by John Hughes, son of the Mr. Hughes who came
from Kelso to Paul’s Work. John Hughes, beginning as a compositor, was
afterwards taken into the counting-room to aid in the control of the
business, and in this position he continued till the death of James
Ballantyne. When the trustees opened Ballantyne’s will, they found a
letter instructing them to continue John Hughes in that position till
the testator’s son, John Alexander Ballantyne, came of age, and if the
business were conducted to their satisfaction, John Hughes was then to
receive a substantial interest in the firm.
For a number of years the firm of Ballantyne & Hughes was fairly
successful. About the year 1850, however, it got into trouble, the causes
for which were not far to seek. For one thing, a centralising movement
had been going on for some time. Many literary men were finding it
necessary to live in London for library and other consulting facilities,
and the work naturally followed with the editors and the contributors.
The _Edinburgh Review_, for example, which had been printed for a number
of years at Paul’s Work, was removed to London, for the convenience of
the editor.
Other causes also were at work. The population of Edinburgh and Leith
about the time of Scott’s birth in 1771 was probably not more than
70,000; at his death in 1832 it was reckoned at about 140,000. Thus
during his lifetime the number of inhabitants was doubled, and these
had to find room elsewhere than in the crowded streets and wynds of old
Edinburgh. The New Town across the valley was rapidly growing down the
slopes of the northern hills of the city, and many of the wealthier
inhabitants and of the old legal firms had already crossed, and other
large businesses were following. This led to the withdrawal of much
work and traffic from the old town; whilst, again, the starting of
the Blackwoods as printers of their own books, which began with the
January number of _Maga_ in 1847, took away from Paul’s Work not only
that publication but also the _Journal of Agriculture_, the various
editions of Alison’s “History of Europe”—which kept the old office lively
for a long time—and other works. _Tait’s Magazine_, another Edinburgh
periodical of good standing, was also taken away. All these and other
similar changes, in the absence of a counter-current of local supply,
were sufficient to weaken any business.
The firm, however, had foreseen the coming evil days, and made an effort
to avert the serious consequences of the change in the tide of business.
In 1846, a branch office was started at 3 Thistle Street, which soon
became a successful little place, where a large amount of Court of
Session work was done, as well as the printing for some of the Edinburgh
insurance offices. John A. Ballantyne took charge of the branch business
till John Hughes purchased the property and stock at Thistle Street. The
former remained connected with the business at Paul’s Work till his death
in 1863.
Various changes took place after this. Work was increasing beyond the
limits of the old Paul’s Work, owing to the influence and energy of one
of the partners, Mr. Edward Hanson, resident in London, who revived the
connection which existed in the early days of James Ballantyne, and
gave a great impetus to the printing of books in Edinburgh for London
publishers. Mr. Hanson was born in Cleveland in Yorkshire, and as a youth
went to Edinburgh in 1857 to enter the publishing house of Mr. James
Nichol. Mr. Nichol was at the time engaged in the issue of a complete
edition of the British Poets, in forty-eight volumes, edited by the Rev.
George Gilfillan, and also an edition of the Standard Divines. Both of
these series were printed at the Ballantyne Press, and Mr. Hanson became
acquainted with Mr. John A. Ballantyne, the last of the family to enter
the business. This friendship led eventually to Mr. Hanson joining the
Ballantyne Press. After John A. Ballantyne’s death a partnership was
formed by Mr. James Cowan, M.P., Mr. J. D. Nichol, and Mr. Hanson. In
1875 Mr. Nichol retired from the firm, and was followed in 1879 by Mr.
Cowan, leaving Mr. Hanson sole partner. In the financial arrangements
requisite on the retirement of Mr. Cowan, Mr. Hanson was assisted by
his friend Mr. Francis Logie Pirie, of Tottingworth Park, Sussex, who
became and remained for some years a partner in the Press. Mr. Hanson
subsequently assumed as partners his nephew, Mr. R. W. Hanson, in
Edinburgh, and Mr. Charles M’Call in London, and with their assistance
has materially developed the old business. A third generation of the
Hanson family has recently joined the firm in the person of Mr. Edward
Taylor Hanson.
[Illustration: WINDOW IN PAUL’S WORK OF THE PRESENT DAY]
As the neighbouring encroachments of the North British Railway station
prevented any extension of old Paul’s Work, plans were made for
accommodation in better quarters. These were found at Clare House,
lying between Findhorn Place and Causewayside. Many of the larger
printing-offices have, within the last thirty years, removed their
premises to the more commodious outskirts of the city, and Paul’s Work
was among the first to lead the way in this respect by its removal, in
December 1870, to the Newington district.
In 1878 Mr. Hanson acquired the printing business of Saville, Edwards
& Co., Chandos Street, and thus the firm secured for itself a habitat
in London. He was fortunate in having for his manager Mr. Horace Hart,
now Controller of the Oxford University Press. This branch removed to
Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, in 1888, and there carries on the
printing of several Magazines, as well as a considerable amount of Book
production. In 1905 it was converted into a private limited company under
the name of Ballantyne & Co., Limited, the shares being chiefly held by
the old firm. In 1908 the firm experienced a great loss in the death of
Mr. M’Call. His son, Mr. C. H. M’Call, has succeeded to his position.