A HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE ' Snare & Man ' appears on many title pages. The Stranger in Reading was printed by them in 1810, a satirical work generally supposed to have been written by Man, also Classical Pastimes by Mirrianne Curties. They printed and published Mr. Man's History of Reading in 1816, a well printed and il- lustrated 410 work, and a long poem on The Death of Abel. The partnership seems to have been dissolved about this time. Mr. William Man carried on the printing and publishing business in Butcher Row, and books appear with his name only on the title page. A book of poems by T. Wyatt was printed by him in 1818. Robert Snare published several works and was succeeded by John Snare, who in 1845 printed Arborleigh and in 1843 a work entitled Environs of Reading. He used excel- lent paper and good type, and considerably improved the style of Reading printing. In 1825 George Lamb was printing and publishing the second oldest newspaper in the county, The Berkshire Chronicle. This news- paper has an interesting history. Founded in 1770 its early years are merged in obscurity, but a rare copy of one of the numbers of the third volume is preserved in the office and is full of interest. Issued at z^d. it consists of four pages 12 J by i8 inches, and it was published at Wokingham by Messrs. Trickey, Cruttwell & Co. in the market place. Owing to the increase of the stamp duty, which reached 4^. in 1815, the Chronicle like many other papers felt the burden insupportable, and for a time its publication was suspended. In 1825 it reappeared, consisting of four five- column pages (15^ by 21 inches) bearing a 4^. stamp, the price being jd. The printing office was now removed to Reading in the High Street, the publisher being G. Lamb. Various changes took place in the size and price of the paper. Richard Welch was the publisher in 1850 and continued to conduct the paper until recent times, when a company was formed to carry on the paper, which holds a prominent place among the newspapers of the county. In addition to the newspaper proprietors, there were two other printers in the town in 1830, E. Beasley and W. Drysdale. The latter printed The Life of Anne Smith in 1829. In 1831 the name of W. Conibear appears on the title page of The New Con- fectionary. Richard Parsons was printing at this time and published in 1835 a volume of sermons, and W. Thomas, of Broad Street, produced A Voice from Italy in 1843. Two years later Richard Welch was established in the market place, and printed Barra, a Trajedy in 1845. A private press was set up in Reading by Mr. T. E. Williams, who produced a reprint of P. Heutzner's Journey in England in 1807. Newbury had several printers at the beginning of the last century, of whom Messrs. Hall & Marsh were the chief firm. They printed a history of the town in 1839, and had their press in Speenhamland. Other printers in the town were William Mayo and Matthew Vardy in Northbrook Street, and Matthew Price in the marketplace. In 1841 Mr. James Blacket acquired one of the North- brook Street businesses, and in 1864 was joined in partnership by his son, Mr. W. J. Blacket. In 1867 the Newbury Weekly News was started by the latter in conjunction with Mr. T. W. Turner ; this paper is still printed by the same firm. The volumes of the Trans- actions of the Newbury Field Club are printed by Mr. Blacket. Another Newbury news- paper was The Newbury Express, printed and published by Mr. W. Hall, but now discon- tinued. The Caxton Printing Works in the market place are owned by Mr. G. J. Cosburn, who produces an annual illustrated directory of the town and neighbourhood. Messrs. Hemmin, Nash & Oliver are also printers in the town. A press was in existence at Faringdon in 1 798, owned by L. Piggot,who printed a small History of Faringdon, a scarce volume which now commands a large price. In 1830 Richard Knapp was the sole printer there. Luker & Co. are now the only printers in the place, and publish the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of White Horse Gazette. Abingdon printers at the beginning of the century were Caleb Evans and W. Willmor. The only newspapers published in the town are the Abingdon Herald, the proprietor of which is Mr. H. G. Loosley, and the Abingdon Free Press ; but there are several printers, Baylis & Co., S. Waite, Messrs. H. H. Hughes, T. Leach and W. H. Hooke. A volume entitled Selections from the Records of the Borough of Abingdon was printed and published by Mr. W. H. Hooke, who has his works in the marketplace. Neither Wantage nor Woking- ham could boast of a press in 1830, but, as we have already mentioned, in the latter town Messrs. Trickey Cruttwell & Co. had a press in the market place in 1773, which produced the earlier numbers of the Berkshire Chronicle. For many years W. J. Gotelee and also Mrs. Millin have carried on small printing works in Wokingham ; and the Wokingham Gazette has recently been started by Mr. F. Staniford. At Wantage Mr. H. N. Nichols has for many years had a press, and has printed several works, including Wantage, 402
