Chapter XII: 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.

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.