about holywell press

Established in 1890, Holywell Press is a family-run commercial printing business in central Oxford. We blend creative graphic design with print craftsmanship, state-of-the-art technology, and bespoke service. And, as a Carbon Balanced Printer, we enable commercial and private customers to embrace the power of sustainable printing.

our story

Holywell’s origins date back more than a century. Starting as a traditional print business, we’ve kept pace with changes in communication technology and attitudes, and now seamlessly combine lithographic and digital printing with online solutions. Our talented team of graphic and digital designers works alongside experienced print craftsmen, so you’re assured outstanding results and consistent reproduction of your brand across every channel.

1890

Holywell was originally founded as a traditional print business in 1890 by Harry Burrows – great grandfather of current MD, Ben – and Jack Doe. The business was located in the Chapel of St Mary in Catte Street and took its name from the nearby Holywell Rooms. In the early years, Holywell’s main customer was Oxford University, but the company also worked for Morris Motors, producing advertising material for some of its early models. Harry and William Morris (later Lord Nuffield) became personal friends.

1920

As the business expanded its services, publishing books by local authors and printing the Oxford University students’ magazine, ‘Isis’, Holywell outgrew its original Octagonal House premises and moved in 1920 to the Maclaren Gymnasium in Alfred Street. The new works provided room for expansion, and the business prospered until the Second World War, when paper became scarce.

1944

In 1944, William Frank Burrows took over the Press following the death of his father. At the outbreak of the war, Holywell narrowly avoided having its premises requisitioned following an intervention by Lord Nuffield, who had persuasively argued for the value of the Press’s work to the war effort. Following the war, the Press continued to print for the University and commercially using the letterpress process to produce academic journals, books, commercial catalogues, and a wide range of other materials.

1965

In 1965, Peter Burrows became the third generation of the Burrows family to head Holywell Press. Under his tenure, the Press undertook a major modernisation programme, investing in new technology at a time of great technological innovation. A Heidelberg KORD SRA2 offset litho machine was purchased in 1969, and 1975 saw the installation of a Compugraphic Photosetter, which, while crude in today's terms, provided a 400% increase in productivity over hot metal typesetting.

1989

In 1989, Holywell again relocated – this time to purpose-built premises on Oxford's Osney Mead, where you'll still find us today. Holywell has kept pace with technological change and invested in five generations of new offset litho equipment, including only the second five colour Sakurai press to be installed in the UK. When Ben Burrows succeeded his father in 2000, the Press added a Horizon BQ270V perfect binder, enabling book printing on demand. A digital press offering short-run colour work was also added.

today

Holywell continues to keep pace with technological change and to invest in new equipment and develop new skills. Our latest acquisitions are a Xerox Versant 4100 high-resolution digital press and a Heidelberg CX75 LE UV litho press, meaning we can offer high-quality short-run colour printing. Our design studio continues to create imaginative digital and print design using Adobe Creative Suite on Apple computers.

We are also striving to serve customers more sustainably by making zero-emission deliveries and becoming a certified Carbon Balanced Printer.

our people

Holywell Press has been run by the Burrows family for over 130 years. In 2000, Ben Burrows became the latest family member to take up the mantle, and he has continued the company tradition of investing in up-to-date machinery and, above all, skilled and passionate staff. Ben has now been joined by his eldest son, Oli, who is helping to look after clients and drive new business.

We aim to be a partner to our customers rather than acting as a mere supplier. These partnerships are forged by Ben, Oli, and our Production Director, Richie, who keeps clients informed about the progress of their projects. Karen looks after invoicing and the office itself, and Petra leads the company's marketing programmes.

In the design studio, Toby, Grace, and Izzy combine creativity, graphic and digital design skills while paying careful attention to customers’ specific requirements. Their flights of imagination would remain just that were it not for the expertise, experience, and craftsmanship of Chris in pre-press and, on the print floor, machine minders Gary and Graham, working alongside Alan, Marina, and Brandon in the bindery.

Everyone at Holywell loves what they do, and this is reflected in the work we produce and the long-term relationships we build with our customers.

“Holywell Press are undoubtedly the best printers we’ve ever worked with – the attention to detail is unparalleled. It seems that nothing is ever too much trouble. The whole process feels very personal, yet the service is also incredibly efficient. Print week is a time of enjoyable anticipation while we wait to see the latest iteration of the magazine. It is unfailingly a thing of great beauty.”

— Claire Lowdon, Areté Magazine

our values

Our core values are a reference point for all aspects of our work at Holywell, informing our day-to-day work, as well as the key business decisions we make.

environmentally aware – working responsibly

We respect the environment and strive to have as little impact on it as we are able, working with sustainable materials, recycling wherever possible, and using our own solar power system to help offset energy consumption.

customer focused – your partner, not just your supplier

Developing lasting relationships with our customers and supporting them as a partner, not just as a supplier, is central to our business model. Our approach is friendly, proactive, and tailored to your needs.

passionate, creative, innovative in everything we do

Our passion, creativity, and desire to innovate permeate all our work, and they are exercised at each stage of a project through design and production. We always seek to add value wherever we can.

investing in talent and technology to stay ahead

We know we are only as good as the people we employ and the technology we use. Holywell is committed to investing in the highest calibre of staff and the very latest equipment available.

best value with no compromise on quality

Value and quality are not mutually exclusive. Our goal is always to exceed customers’ expectations by adding value at every stage of a project, from creative concept through to delivery of the finished product.

some of our clients

Admiralty
Blavatnik School of Government
Bottlesoc
Brasenose College
Burford School
Chris Andrews Publications
Christ Church College
COMPAS
Corpus Christi College
Cothill School
Countryside Books
CRM Students
CT-Live!
Greene’s College Oxford
Magdalen College
Merton College
Middle East Centre, Oxford
Modern Art Oxford
New York Review of Books Foundation
Oxford Preservation Trust
Oxford Vaccine Group
Saïd Business School
School Library Association
SFA (Oxford)
Sophos
St Clare’s Oxford
St Edward’s School
St Hilda's College
St Hugh's School
The Aroma Company
The Fan Museum
The Guild of Television Camera Professionals
The Queen‘s College
The Sudanese Programme
Tip Top Marquees
University of Oxford
Worcester College
World Odyssey
Wytham Woods
and many more ...

where to find us

Holywell Press is conveniently located near the centre of Oxford and its main train station. Why not come and visit us? We are always happy to show you around the studio and the factory. You’ll find us tucked into a cosy corner of the Kings Meadow business estate just off the Ferry Hinksey Road.