OUR HERITAGE
Few printing companies can claim a legacy that stretches back more than 250 years but we can. For the past 70 years we have honed our expertise and now specialise in helping governments and awarding bodies with their examinations. Read our story.
STEPHEN AUSTIN TIMELINE
1768 – “FIRST EDITIONS”
Stephen Austin established his printing business in Hertford in the same year the first ever Encyclopaedia Britannica was published.
1772 – COUNTY DEBUT
Stephen Austin published the Hartford Mercury, the first newspaper in the county.
1818 – FOUNDER DIES
Founder Stephen Austin died and was succeeded by his eldest son, Stephen Austin II.
1832 – ELECTRORAL PRINTING
The Austin family had printed electoral material since 1790 but in 1832 it printed one of the first Bills of the Reform Act.
1834 – RADICAL NEWSPAPER
Stephen Austin launched the Reformer, a paper supporting the Liberal Party, which was immediately lampooned by its Tory rival.
1836 – OFFICE MOVE
Stephen Austin opened offices next to its printing works in Fore Street, Hertford.
1842 – EXAM MATERIALS DEBUT
Stephen Austin printed a Persian examination paper for the East India College; the first of many exam papers.
1855 – CLUTCH OF MEDALS
Stephen Austin won a silver medal at the first ever Exposition Universelle in Paris, and also received gold medals from the Empress Eugenie and Queen Victoria.
1863 – EDUCATIONAL ROOTS
Stephen Austin III had been associated with the East India College at Haileybury since childhood. When it closed, he was a leading member of the group that set up a public school on the same site.
1872 – HITTING HIGH NOTES
Stephen Austin III and his brother John, both regular singers in the Glee Society, took over the family business.
1892 – BIG SHOES TO FILL
When Stephen Austin III, known as ‘The Patriarch’, died in 1892 his two sons, Stephen IV and Vernon Austin, tried to run the business, but they had neither the skill nor the commitment of their father.
1909 – NEW BLOOD
Victor Harrison of the well-known security printing firm Harrison & Co becomes managing director of Stephen Austin, joining Chairman Richard Austin, another son of Stephen Austin III.
1938 – ARABIC LISTENER
Stephen Austin prints the Arabic Listener, a magazine to accompany the BBC’s Arabic Service which launched to counter Mussolini’s propaganda in the Middle East.
1942 – NEW FACE AT THE HELM
Victor Harrison becomes chairman of Stephen Austin and relinquishes his managing director role to his son Stanley in order to give more attention to his family firm, Harrison and Co.
1954 – MOVED TO CAXTON HILL PREMISES
Stephen Austin makes Caxton Hill their new home, where they still remain today.
1962 – A WHOLE NEW ALPHABET
Stephen Austin prints a version of George Bernard Shaw’s play Androcles and the Lion, the first book printed in his Shavian alphabet.
1966 – CHANGE AT THE TOP
Stanley Harrison became chairman and his half-brother, John, took over as managing director.
1972 – FAMILY DYNAMICS
Stephen Austin’s newspaper and printing business is sold by Stanley Harrison to Peter Fowler, who came from a City background.
1993 – MAN AND BOY
Ken Hartfield joined Stephen Austin as an apprentice and in 1987 became its managing director. Seen here with fellow directors (left to right) Bill Jordan, Richard Russell and Peter Lake.
1993 – 225TH ANNIVERSARY
Stephen Austin celebrates 225 years in business with a reception at the British Library and guest of honour, the Right Hon Peter Brooke, MP, Secretary of State for National Heritage (seen right).
1998 – ROYAL APPROVAL
Stephen Austin had printed for the Royal Family for some years, but, in 1998, it received a Royal Warrant.
1998-2000 – HI-TECH BUILD
Work began in 1998 on Stephen Austin’s new purpose-built, secure facility, equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The site, completed two years later, now has the potential to operate 24/7.
2004 – New millennium,
new leader
Rory Fowler becomes the new Managing Director at Stephen Austin, leading the company into the new millennium that brings with it the many technological advancements within the industry.
2016 – MAJOR REBRAND
The company logo of Stephen Austin’s 18th century founder, the so-called ‘bronze man’, was replaced by a new image embodying a face looking forwards to an exciting future.
2018 – 250TH ANNIVERSARY
Stephen Austin marks 250 years with an event for clients and staff at Divinity School, Oxford University’s oldest teaching and examination room.
2019 – Latest changes made
After 4 years at Stephen Austin, David Cockram takes over as Chief Executive Officer, as Rory Fowler moves into the position of CEO of Stephen Austin Group