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Messrs A.A. Fletcher & Son Ltd., Printing Works
Mr A.A. Fletcher, a young engineer on a visit to a printing works was so impressed by what he saw that he decided to open his own printing business. He found premises at Foundry Lane, Swalwell, and the works opened in 1888. The typesetting was done by a team of compositors, Mr Fletcher did the machine work and a small staff of girls finished off in the bindery department. One of Mr Fletcher's achievements in 1909, was the introduction to this country of coloured postcards of local buildings etc. In 1914 Mr W.B. Fletcher, his son, became a partner in the firm and the business was managed jointly until the tragic death of both partners in 1952. Mr Alan Fletcher took over the business at a very difficult time in the history of the firm. He introduced mechanised typesetting and automatic printing machinery resulting in greater efficiency. The business expanded rapidly and in 1965 a larger building was obtained in Station Road, Swalwell. Eventually the business moved to the Team Valley Trading Estate and changed hands in the 1990s.