Industrial History Online
Cambridge University Press
Key Words :- printing press
Address :- The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1RP
Grid Ref :- TL 44820 58098
Co-ordinates :- Lat 52.202092 , Long 0.117719
Local Authority :- Cambridge City Council
Pre 1974 County :- Cambridgeshire
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No :- 1126282,
Site Dates :- 1831 -
Description and History of Site:-
The Pitt Building was designed by Edward Blore as a memorial building for William Pitt, Britain's youngest prime minister, who died at the age of 46 in 1806. A public fund to finance a statue of Pitt also provided enough money to build the Pitt Building and it was opened in 1833. After being approached by the University, the trustees of the fund decided the money should be used for 'a handsome building connected with the University Press at Cambridge'.
The Pitt Building is no longer used for printing. Cambridge University Press ceased printing in 2012. All the buildings surrounding the courtyard behind the Pitt Building were also used for printing throughout the 19th century. They are now owned by Cambridge University and house various University departments.
In 2003 the specialist printing machines for die stamping etc that were housed in the Pitt Building were moved out and they are now on display outside the Press Museum, in the University Printing House on Shaftesbury Road.
The Pitt Building was refurbished and opened as a conference and events venue in 2004. It still hosts meetings for Cambridge University Press and Assessment, including some meetings of the Syndicate. The Press Syndicate are members of Cambridge University who approve all academic publications produced by Cambridge University Press and Assessment. They meet in the Oriel Room, which was designed as a 'handsome meeting room' by the architect Edward Blore.
Further Reading and References:-
Alderton, David and Booker, John. 'The Batsford Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of East Anglia'. Batsford, 1980
https://www.cambridge.org/pittbuilding/about_us
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/media/2316/mill-lane-historic-environment-analysis.pdf [pp30-40]
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Grid Ref :- TL 44820 58098
Co-ordinates :- Lat 52.202092 , Long 0.117719
Local Authority :- Cambridge City Council
Pre 1974 County :- Cambridgeshire
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No :- 1126282,
Site Dates :- 1831 -
The Pitt Building was designed by Edward Blore as a memorial building for William Pitt, Britain's youngest prime minister, who died at the age of 46 in 1806. A public fund to finance a statue of Pitt also provided enough money to build the Pitt Building and it was opened in 1833. After being approached by the University, the trustees of the fund decided the money should be used for 'a handsome building connected with the University Press at Cambridge'.
The Pitt Building is no longer used for printing. Cambridge University Press ceased printing in 2012. All the buildings surrounding the courtyard behind the Pitt Building were also used for printing throughout the 19th century. They are now owned by Cambridge University and house various University departments.
In 2003 the specialist printing machines for die stamping etc that were housed in the Pitt Building were moved out and they are now on display outside the Press Museum, in the University Printing House on Shaftesbury Road.
The Pitt Building was refurbished and opened as a conference and events venue in 2004. It still hosts meetings for Cambridge University Press and Assessment, including some meetings of the Syndicate. The Press Syndicate are members of Cambridge University who approve all academic publications produced by Cambridge University Press and Assessment. They meet in the Oriel Room, which was designed as a 'handsome meeting room' by the architect Edward Blore.
Alderton, David and Booker, John. 'The Batsford Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of East Anglia'. Batsford, 1980
https://www.cambridge.org/pittbuilding/about_us
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/media/2316/mill-lane-historic-environment-analysis.pdf [pp30-40]
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Contributor :- Robert Mason - 18 October 2022
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Robert Mason
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Robert Mason