In the second half of the nineteenth century, in common with most printers of the time, the firm relied on general jobbing work – posters and notices, timetables, account and letter books. The business was managed by William Pollard, born 1823, son of William Carss Pollard and his wife Ann . The print technology of the time still demanded long trade apprenticeships and high levels of craft skills. Mechanical typesetting remained a long way off, but presses, still fed by hand, were improving. Bindery equipment was also altering, but very slowly. Hand work predominated everywhere. Through the mid-Victorian years the business appears to have flourished and diversified. At one point, it advertised itself as ‘Fancy Stationers and Account Book Manufacturers’ and even had a department offering Leather Goods. William also had a particular interest in ‘archaeological and genealogical printing’.