Twelveheads Press
Twelveheads Press is an independent publishing company based in Chacewater near Truro, Cornwall, UK. Best known for their Cornish Heritage series but also well known by scholars and enthusiasts for their transport and mining books: the firm takes its name from the hamlet of Twelveheads.
History and philosophy
Founded by Michael Messenger and John Stengelhofen, Twelveheads have been producing high quality books for over 25 years. Their specialist books include topics such as maritime, mining and railway history, and mostly cover the areas of Cornwall and Southwest Britain. In 1988 Messenger and Stengelhofen were joined by Alan Kittridge and all three have contributed significantly to their titles[1]
Michael Messenger states:[2]
"Twelveheads Press is not a conventional publishing house in the usual sense, but three friends who publish subjects that interest us. Our knowledge ensures that the books are authentic and accurate. Whilst we try not to lose money on books because we do not rely on Twelveheads Press for our living we can afford to reject manuscripts that are not to the standards we want and expect. It is only the support of the reading public that has kept us in business for over 30 years."
Titles for Cornwall County Council
The following titles were produced by Historic Environment Service (formerly Cornwall Archaeological Unit) for Cornwall County Council[3]
- Scilly's Archaeological Heritage
- Cornwall's Archaeological Heritage
- Cornwall's China Clay
Railway titles
Twelveheads titles focus on studies of railways in Cornwall, Devon and Wales
- Slate Quarry Railways of Gwynedd
- North Devon Clay
- Industrial Railways of the South West
- The Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works E. A. Wade
- Caradon & Looe : The Canal, Railways and Mines
- Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge
- The Lee Moor Tramway
- The Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway E. A. Wade
- Devonport Dockyard Railway
- The Culm Valley Light Railway
- Cornwall's Railway Heritage
- The Mont Cenis Fell Railway
Maritime titles
- Railway Ships & Packet Ports
- T. R. Brown of Bristol
- Cosens of Weymouth; 1918 to 1996
- White Funnel Magic
- Lundy Packets
- Steamers & Ferries of the River Tamar & Three Towns District
- Passenger Steamers of the River Fal
- Douglas Head Ferry & the Port Soderick Boats
- Plymouth; Ocean Liner Port of Call
- Tacky's Tug
- Rendel's Floating Bridges
- Bishop Rock Lighthouse
Mining titles
- Mines of Cornwall & Devon
- Tin Streams of Wendron
- The Kalmeter Journal Henric Kalmeter (1693-1750) made this journal on a visit to Cornwall, Devon and Somerset in 1724-25. It was translated from the Swedish by Justin Brooke.
Cornwall's Heritage
- Cornwall's Archaeological Heritage
- Cornwall's Bridge & Viaduct Heritage
- Cornwall's Churchyard Heritage
- Cornwall's Geological Heritage
- Cornwall's Industrial Heritage
- Cornwall's Lifeboat Heritage
- Cornwall's Lighthouse Heritage
- Cornwall's Literary Heritage
- Cornwall's Maritime Heritage
- Cornwall's Mining Heritage
- Cornwall's Railway Heritage
Standard Book Number
The Twelveheads Press has the following 13-digit ISBN code: 978 0 906294 (followed by xxx y)
References
- ^ The Titfield Thunderbolt Publishers list
- ^ This statement was received by email, on an enquiry from WP editor. There is a fuller statement at the Company website - About us
- ^ Titles published for Historic Environment Service of Cornwall County Council
