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). Also in 2005 premises for storage and distribution were leased at Sutton Veny, near Warminster, although all editorial matters continue to be dealt with at East Knoyle.

Success! By the end of 2006 17 hardback books and 26 paperbacks had been published, together with 6 annual issues of Sarum Chronicle, a journal devoted to the history of Salisbury and its district. All the books have received favourable reviews in the local press and historical periodicals, and a growing number of readers are buying most or all of the new titles as they appear. Plans for 2007 include major books on farm labour in Wiltshire, further short town histories, a new introduction to the Wiltshire author Richard Jefferies, a guide to the Wiltshire Cotswolds, an important new study of the archaeology of Stonehenge and its region, and several village and community histories. John Chandler is continuing to work on his seven-volume county history of Wiltshire, having completed and published volumes 1 and 2. A new venture will be launching of a series of small books about areas of Salisbury, to be called Sarum Studies under the aegis of the Sarum Chronicle editorial team.

Collaborations   As well as 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. Full details will be found on the Collaborations 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, including new editions of Where Wiltshire meets Somerset. and A Book of Newton Abbot. Full details will be found on the Collaborations 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

For enquiries about orders, distribution, invoicing and availability, and for editorial matters, contact john@hobnobpress.co.uk

Availability: local representation and distribution is undertaken by Southern Map Distributors, Greenstalls Park, Costello Hill, Ilchester BA22 8LB (phone 01935 842060).

Terms: For details and direct orders phone or email.

ISBN publisher’s prefix: 0-946418. Please note that from 1 January 2007 10-digit ISBNs are being replaced by 13-digit ISBNs, beginning 978-. Hobnob Press books published after April 2006 are including both 10- and 13-digit ISBNs on the title-page verso.