Hobnob Press is a publisher of books about Wiltshire and the surrounding region owned and run by local historian Dr John Chandler. On these webpages you will find details of all Hobnob titles, books distributed but not published by Hobnob Press, and an order form which you can print off and send. I plan to include shortly an online ordering and payment facility.
Background
Hobnob Press was established in 1983 by Tony Martin (then proprietor of the Everyman Bookshop, Salisbury) to publish John Chandler’s history of Salisbury, Endless Street. During the 1980s Tony published four more local books under the Hobnob Press imprint, all now out of print, but after 1988 the press fell silent. Tony sold his Salisbury shop (it no longer sells books), then ran bookshops in Southampton and Ringwood, but is not currently bookselling; John has subsequently written other books about Wiltshire and regional history for Sutton Publishing and Ex Libris Press, and conducts historical research for archaeologists. In 2001 Hobnob Press was revived by John Chandler (with Tony Martin’s encouragement), to publish quality local books at an affordable price from a South Wiltshire base once again. And in 2005 Hobnob Press took over the distribution of another Wiltshire publisher, Ex Libris Press (see below). Since 2005 also premises for storage and distribution have been leased at Sutton Veny, near Warminster, although all editorial matters continue to be dealt with at East Knoyle.
Progress
By the end of 2007 over fifty titles have been published, together with six annual issues of Sarum Chronicle, a journal devoted to the history of Salisbury and its district. New books regularly receive favourable reviews in the local press and historical periodicals, and most people interested in the history and landscape of Wiltshire by now will have many Hobnob titles on their bookshelves. Work on many more titles is in progress, for publication in 2008 and subsequent years.
Collaborations
As well as Ex Libris Press and Sarum Chronicle, which is published on behalf of an editorial team, Hobnob Press collaborates with other organisations, the Hatcher Review Trust, Wiltshire Record Society, and Wiltshire Buildings Record, to distribute their publications. Parish histories from John Chandler’s county history are included on Wiltshire County Council’s website. Further details of these and other links will be found on the Hobnob Marketplace page of this website.
Ex Libris Press
For over twenty years Ex Libris of Bradford on Avon has been a leading publisher of books on Wiltshire and neighbouring counties, boasting many important and entertaining books on its list. With the relocation to Jersey of its proprietor, Roger Jones, to concentrate on his Channel Islands imprint, Seaflower Press, Ex Libris titles still available have been distributed since January 2005 by Hobnob Press. Roger continues to publish (and Hobnob to distribute) new Ex Libris titles, and full details will be found on the Hobnob Marketplace page of this website.
Facts and Figures
Postal address: Hobnob Press, PO Box 1838, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6FA, UK
Telephone: 01747-830015; mobile 07946-068892
Email: john@hobnobpress.co.uk
ISBN publisher’s prefix: 978-0-946418
Availability
Hobnob titles are available (depending on subject area) in most Wiltshire and some Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Berkshire bookshops. Details are included on Nielsen BookNet, by which means they can be identified and ordered by and through local booksellers anywhere. Hobnob Press books are distributed nationally by wholesalers Gardners Books, 1 Whittle Drive, Willingdon Drove, Eastbourne BN23 6QH. Some local representation and distribution are undertaken by Southern Map Distributors, Greenstalls Park, Costello Hill, Ilchester BA22 8LB (phone 01935-842060).
Terms
For details and direct orders phone or email.