Robert Smail's Printing Works NTS

11/10/2026

Our film about the European Eel will appear on the back of the printing works building again tonight. This is the final chance to see it! Come along once it gets dark (6.30-7pm until 9pm)

The mill lade runs under Smail's and used to power our printing presses. Now it forms a wildlife corridor for a range of animals, birds and fish including eels.

10/10/2026

tonight and tomorrow - a projection artwork celebrating the lifecycle of the European Eel! Projected onto the back of the printing works on Leithen Crescent

08/10/2026

Starting tomorrow - a three minute film about the European Eel to be projected onto the rear of the printing works! The mill lade runs under Smail's and used to power our printing presses. Now it forms a wildlife corridor for a range of animals, birds and fish including eels.

The film will loop from 6pm to 9pm Friday the 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of October. This is part of the Dark Skies Festival 2026.

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Access to the printing works is by guided tour only:
October: 11am, 1.30pm, 3.15pm Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat

Pre-booking advised

Shop: 10.30am – 5pm, Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat until Oct 31st

05/10/2026

Our next one-day Letterpress workshops are in November (21 & 22)! You can find the booking link at linktr.ee/smailsnts

Participants can make posters, text-based art works, postcards or a limited number of greetings cards up to A3 in size! All using our historical type and equipment

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Access to the printing works is by guided tour only:
October: 11am, 1.30pm, 3.15pm Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat

Pre-booking advised

Shop: 10.30am – 5pm, Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat until Oct 31st

02/10/2026

There will be no guided tour at 3.15pm today (October 2nd)

As always we recommend booking guided tours in advance at smailstours26.eventbrite.co.uk

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Access to the printing works is by guided tour only:
October: 11am, 1.30pm, 3.15pm Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat

Pre-booking advised

Shop: 10.30am – 5pm, Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat until Oct 31st

02/10/2026

Tonight! Our online lecture to celebrate our 160th Anniversary will be live-streamed from the machine room from 7pm. You can book at oldnewtech160years.eventbrite.co.uk

Booking closes at 12pm and we'll send an email with the Teams link for the talk after that :)

Old New Tech: 160 years and still printing

An Anniversary Lecture by eminent print historian Dr Helen S. Williams, discussing 160 years of letterpress printing in Innerleithen, and the wider context of letterpress printing in Scotland.

This is an online event livestreamed from the Machine Room at Robert Smail's Printing Works on Friday 2 October at 7pm (19.00 GMT /BST) in collaboration with Heriot Watt University.

Online tickets are £10.00 + booking fee

26/09/2026

Today and tomorrow we have two local artists displaying work in our shop window as part of the . Jack Conkie & Patrick Hoye both create prints using linocut, wood engraving and letterpress.

The shop will be open today 10.30am until 5pm if you have any questions, but will be closed tomorrow. The artists' emails are available in the window for any enquiries.

__________________________
Access to the printing works is by guided tour only:
September: 11am, 1.30pm and 3.15pm Mon and Thurs only
October: 11am, 1.30pm, 3.15pm Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat

Pre-booking advised

Shop: 10.30am – 5pm, Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat from 2nd March

26/09/2026

Our next one-day letterpress workshops will be on the 21st and 22nd of November 2026

You can book via Eventbrite: smailsworkshops26.eventbrite.co.uk

_____________________________
Access to the printing works is by guided tour only:
September: 11am, 1.30pm and 3.15pm Mon and Thurs only
October: 11am, 1.30pm, 3.15pm Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat

Pre-booking advised

Shop: 10.30am – 5pm, Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat from 2nd March

25/09/2026

One week left to go! You still have time to book to our online lecture OLD NEW TECH: 160 years and still printing on October 2

An Anniversary Lecture by eminent print historian Dr Helen S. Williams, discussing 160 years of letterpress printing in Innerleithen, and the wider context of letterpress printing in Scotland.

This is an online event livestreamed from the Machine Room at Robert Smail's Printing Works on Friday 2 October at 7pm (19.00 GMT /BST) in collaboration with Heriot Watt University.

Online tickets are £10.00 + booking fee

A Teams link to join the event will be sent out to ticket holders 48 hours in advance of the event.

______________________________
Access to the printing works is by guided tour only:
September: 11am, 1.30pm and 3.15pm Mon and Thurs only
October: 11am, 1.30pm, 3.15pm Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat
Pre-booking advised
Shop: 10.30am – 5pm, Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat from 2nd March

24/09/2026

Our next letterpress one-day hands on workshops will be the 21st and 22nd of November. Booking here!

______________________
Access to the printing works is by guided tour only:
September: 11am, 1.30pm and 3.15pm Mon and Thurs only
October: 11am, 1.30pm, 3.15pm Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat

Pre-booking advised

Shop: 10.30am – 5pm, Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat from 2nd March

Create your own letterpress printed artwork, poster, postcard, or card in a working Victorian printing works in the Scottish Borders.