Twelveheads Press
Twelveheads Press was an independent publishing company based in Chacewater near Truro, Cornwall, UK. Best known for their Cornish Heritage series but also well known by scholars and enthusiasts for their transport and mining books: the firm took its name from the nearby hamlet of Twelveheads.
History and philosophy
Founded by Michael Messenger and John Stengelhofen in 1977 they have been producing high quality books for over 40 years. Their specialist books include topics such as maritime, mining and railway history, and mostly cover the areas of Cornwall and Southwest Britain. In 1988 Messenger and Stengelhofen were joined by Alan Kittridge and all three have contributed significantly to their titles. John Stengelhofen died in 2020 and it was decided to cease trading from the end of 2022.Michael Messenger stated:
"Twelveheads Press is not a conventional publishing house in the usual sense, but three friends who publish subjects that interest us. Our knowledge ensures that the books are authentic and accurate. Whilst we try not to lose money on books because we do not rely on Twelveheads Press for our living we can afford to reject manuscripts that are not to the standards we want and expect. It is only the support of the reading public that has kept us in business for over 30 years."
Titles for Cornwall County Council
The following titles were produced by Historic Environment Service for Cornwall County Council- Scilly's Archaeological Heritage
- Cornwall's Archaeological Heritage
- ''Cornwall's China Clay Heritage''
Railway titles
Twelveheads titles focus on studies of railways in Cornwall, Devon and WalesThe Pentewan Railway Rail & Sail to PentewanWeston Clevedon & Portishead RailwaySlate Quarry Railways of GwyneddThe Struggle for the Cornwall Railway North Devon ClayIndustrial Railways of the South WestThe Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works E. A. WadeCaradon & Looe : The Canal, Railways and MinesBrunel's Royal Albert BridgeThe Lee Moor TramwayThe Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway E. A. WadeDevonport Dockyard RailwayThe Culm Valley Light RailwayThe Mont Cenis Fell RailwayInclined Planes in the South WestThe Bodmin & Wadebridge RailwayFayle's TramwaysThe Furzebrook RailwayThe Snailbeach District Railways- ''Steam South & West''
Maritime titles
Ships & Shipbuilders of a West Country SeaportPassenger Steamers of the River TamarPassenger Steamers of the River DartPassenger Steamers of the Bristol ChannelPassenger Steamers of the Glasgow & South Western RailwayRailway Ships & Packet Ports T. R. Brown of Bristol Cosens of Weymouth; 1918 to 1996 White Funnel Magic Lundy Packets Steamers & Ferries of the River Tamar & Three Towns District Passenger Steamers of the River FalDouglas Head Ferry & the Port Soderick BoatsPlymouth; Ocean Liner Port of Call Tacky's Tugs Rendel's Floating Bridges Bishop Rock LighthouseLongships LighthouseGodrevy LightHevva- ''Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle''
Mining & Quarrying titles
Stannary TalesMines and Mining Men of MenheniotMines of Cornwall & Devon Quarries of England & WalesTin Streams of WendronSouth West Stone QuarriesThe Kalmeter Journal - Henric Kalmeter made this journal on a visit to Cornwall, Devon and Somerset in 1724-25. It was translated from the Swedish by Justin Brooke.Other titles
Cornish MilestonesDartmoor's Earliest Photographs- ''Called Home''
Heritage Series
Cornwall's Archaeological HeritageCornwall's Bridge & Viaduct HeritageCornwall's Butterfly & Moth HeritageCornwall's Churchyard HeritageCornwall's China Clay HeritageCornwall's Communications HeritageCornwall's Geological HeritageCornwall's Industrial HeritageCornwall's Lifeboat HeritageCornwall's Lighthouse HeritageCornwall's Literary HeritageCornwall's Maritime Heritage Cornwall's Mining HeritageCornwall's Railway HeritageScilly's Archaeological HeritageScilly's Building HeritageScilly's Wildlife HeritageDorset's Industrial Heritage- ''Devon's Lifeboat Heritage''