Organisation
BRIGHTON TOWN PRESS is a not for profit publishing organisation which is organised around different hubs. A central hub decides on the next book to publish, the dimensions of the book, the retail price and therefore how many pages, how much text, how many images - whether in colour or black and white - and the title. Selma Montford and Simon Montgomery design the books. Editorial advisers edit the text to fit in with the specifications laid down by the main hub. Simon Montgomery also provides technical advice.
A different sub hub is appointed to oversee the production of a specific book, this will consist of Selma Montford, with the originator - which may be an individual or a group - of the idea for the book, the main writer and sometimes the owner of the images.
The books are a patchwork of historical research, interviews, hitherto unpublished photographs, maps, quotations from documents. This mixture of sources of information makes a lively account of either a particular part of Brighton, or Brighton at a particular time in its history.
The conventional language of official documents is contrasted with informal memories and observations in the spoken, and, sometimes, the written word of personal accounts. Using visual material they contrast architects measured drawings with photographs, maps and plans with drawings, prints with paintings.
history groups
Members of the history group of the Roundhill Society researched the history of their area and produced a book ‘Rose Hill to Roundhill: a Brighton Community’ in partnership with Brighton Books Publishing, the forerunner of Brighton Town Press. This same group have worked on a book entitled ‘The Lost Gardens of London Road : Highway and Byways’, which Brighton Town Press hopes to publish in late 2009.
future projects
Brighton Town Press welcomes comments about their work and are always interested to hear about possible future projects. They would also be interested to hear from groups of people who would be keen to publish a book about their own area.
