Freedom Press
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UnclaimedFreedom Press is a London-based anarchist publishing house, bookseller, archive and media collective founded in 1886.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Freedom Press is an anarchist publishing house and bookseller based in Whitechapel, London. Established in 1886 by Charlotte Wilson and a circle of British and international anarchists, it developed around the newspaper Freedom and became one of the longest-running anarchist publishing initiatives in the English-speaking world. Its early work combined periodical publishing, public meetings, political discussion and the translation of anarchist writings from continental Europe and elsewhere. Peter Kropotkin was an important early contributor, while the press also published or circulated work associated with writers including Errico Malatesta, Jean Grave, Gustav Landauer, Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and Mikhail Bakunin. The organisation has historically operated as a collective rather than as a conventional commercial publisher. Its activities have included publishing books, pamphlets, newspapers and journals; running a specialist bookshop; maintaining an archive; and providing space for meetings and exhibitions. Its principal newspaper, Freedom, was launched as a monthly in 1886 and later became a nationally distributed anarchist periodical. Over time, related publications appeared under titles including Voice of Labour, Spain and the World, Revolt!, War Commentary and Anarchy. The newspaper was particularly influential during periods of heightened interest in anarchism, including the Spanish Civil War and the political movements of the 1960s and 1970s. The press has repeatedly adapted to political, financial and physical pressures. Its first long-term premises were at Ossulston Street, where it acquired a printing press in 1898. The building was demolished in 1928, contributing to a prolonged period of reduced publication activity. Publishing resumed more energetically in the mid-1930s, first through Spain and the World and its successors, before the title Freedom was restored in 1945. During the Second World War, War Commentary maintained an anti-militarist and anti-war position. Several members were prosecuted in 1945, prompting prominent writers and artists to form a defence committee in support of the press and its associates. In 1942, Freedom Press acquired the printing business at 84a Whitechapel High Street. The organisation later moved into the adjoining 84b premises in 1968, which remains its recognised home. Printing operations were separated from the press in 1981 and continued through Aldgate Press, which has remained closely associated with Freedom's production. In 1982, Vernon Richards transferred ownership of the building to The Friends of Freedom Press, a company limited by guarantee without share capital. Freedom Press experienced repeated attacks from neo-fascists during conflicts in London's East End, including a firebombing in March 1993 attributed to Combat 18. A further arson attack on 1 February 2013 caused substantial damage, although no one was injured. Donations helped preserve the organisation, but financial losses associated with the newspaper contributed to the decision to stop publishing a full monthly edition in 2014. The publication subsequently moved much of its activity online and continued with less frequent free printed material. The press launched a digitisation project in 2017, making more than 1,500 issues of Freedom available through an online archive covering material from 1886 onward. In 2018 it became a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry after evidence indicated that former Metropolitan Police undercover officer Roger Pearce had contributed to Freedom in 1980 and 1981. Today, Freedom Press continues as a publishing and bookselling collective. Its activities include the Freedom News website, a specialist archive and bookshop, the Decenter meeting and exhibition space, and cooperation with other political, housing, labour and activist organisations sharing or using the Whitechapel premises.
History
Freedom Press emerged from a London anarchist circle associated with Charlotte Wilson, who broke with the Fabian Society's parliamentary socialist orientation. In September 1886, Wilson and fellow activists established the organisation, and the newspaper Freedom began publication the following month. Peter Kropotkin, who had recently arrived in Britain, became an important contributor. The early press concentrated on anarchist theory, political commentary, public discussion and translations of international writers. Alfred Marsh succeeded Wilson as a central figure in 1895. Together with William Wess and former contributors to the Socialist League's Commonweal, he helped stabilise the organisation. In 1898, Freedom Press acquired premises and printing equipment at 127 Ossulston Street. The hand-operated press was old and labour-intensive, but owning production equipment enabled more regular publishing. A second periodical, Voice of Labour, appeared in 1907, and Thomas Keell later became closely involved in editing Freedom. The First World War produced a major internal disagreement. Keell and most of the collective adopted an anti-militarist position, while Kropotkin supported an Allied victory and later signed the Manifesto of the Sixteen. Keell and Lilian Wolfe were imprisoned in 1916 because of the paper's opposition to the war. After the war, the press struggled as anarchist activism weakened and many radicals were drawn toward communism. The demolition of the Ossulston Street premises in 1928 was another serious setback. For several years the organisation produced only irregular material. The Spanish Civil War helped revive its publishing activity. Spain and the World appeared from 1936 to 1938, followed by Revolt! and then War Commentary during the Second World War. The title Freedom was restored in August 1945. Vernon Richards became a central publisher and organiser, working with Marie-Louise Berneri and others. In 1942, the organisation purchased Express Printers at 84a Whitechapel High Street, establishing a long-term base in the East End. War Commentary maintained an explicitly anti-militarist line and collaborated with elements of the pacifist movement. In late 1944, police raided the premises and homes of several associates. In 1945, Richards, Berneri, John Hewetson and Philip Sansom were prosecuted for allegedly attempting to undermine the loyalty of members of the armed forces. Their prosecution led to the creation of the Freedom Press Defence Committee, supported by figures including Benjamin Britten, E. M. Forster, George Orwell, Herbert Read and George Woodcock. The post-war decades brought new publications and a wider intellectual profile. In 1961, the press began issuing Anarchy, a journal associated especially with editor Colin Ward and designer Rufus Segar. In 1968, Freedom Press moved to 84b Whitechapel High Street after the neighbouring premises were acquired for expansion of the Whitechapel Art Gallery. Richards transferred the building to The Friends of Freedom Press in 1982, while the organisation continued to function through collective administration. Printing was separated from the press in 1981, with the associated printers later operating as Aldgate Press. During the 1990s, the Whitechapel shop was attacked repeatedly by neo-fascists, culminating in a firebombing in March 1993. A further arson attack in February 2013 caused significant damage but no injuries. Financial strain following the attack and the cost of sustaining the newspaper contributed to the 2014 decision to end the regular full monthly edition. The press shifted more of its journalism online and continued producing occasional free print editions. Since then, Freedom Press has combined publishing with bookselling, archiving, events and online news. Its 2017 digitisation project opened access to a large run of historical newspaper issues. In 2018, the organisation became a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry because a former undercover police officer had written for the paper. The collective continues to maintain its Whitechapel premises, bookshop, archive and meeting space, while publishing anarchist and anti-authoritarian books and working with related activist organisations.
- 2017
Historical archive digitisation begins
[1]More than 1,500 issues of Freedom are digitised and made accessible online.
- 2014
Full monthly newspaper publication ends
[1]The collective moves most regular newspaper content online and retains less frequent free printed editions.
- 1982
Building ownership transferred to The Friends of Freedom Press
[1]Vernon Richards transfers ownership of the premises to a company limited by guarantee without share capital.
- 1968
Move to 84b Whitechapel High Street
[1]Freedom Press moves into the adjoining premises that remain its principal London base.
- 1961
Anarchy series begins
[1]The press starts publishing Anarchy, a prominent journal series associated with Colin Ward.
- 1942
Whitechapel printing base acquired
[1]Freedom Press purchases Express Printers at 84a Whitechapel High Street.
- 1936
Spain and the World is launched
[1]The publication responds to renewed anarchist activity associated with the Spanish Civil War.
- 1907
Voice of Labour begins
[1]Freedom Press launches a second periodical, expanding its labour and anarchist publishing activity.
- 1898
Permanent premises and printing equipment acquired
[1]The organisation establishes itself at 127 Ossulston Street and obtains its own hand-operated printing press.
- 1886
Freedom Press is founded
[1]Charlotte Wilson and associated anarchists establish the press in London, and the newspaper Freedom begins publication.
Products and positioning
An independent, collectively run publisher and bookseller focused on anarchist, anti-authoritarian, anti-fascist, pacifist and libertarian political writing.
Newspaper and online news publication · 1886
Freedom
The organisation's principal newspaper, founded in 1886, has covered anarchist politics, anti-authoritarian movements, labour, war, fascism and social struggles. It was historically issued on a regular national basis in the United Kingdom. Since 2014, the full regular newspaper format has been discontinued, with online publishing and occasional free print editions taking its place.
Political journal · 1961
Anarchy
Anarchy was a substantial journal series launched by Freedom Press in 1961. Closely associated with editor Colin Ward and distinctive cover designs by Rufus Segar, it presented accessible discussions of anarchist theory, education, housing, work, urban life and social organisation.
Anti-militarist periodical · 1939
War Commentary
War Commentary was the wartime successor to Spain and the World and Revolt!. It maintained an anti-militarist and pacifist-oriented editorial position during the Second World War and was the publication involved in the 1945 prosecution of several Freedom Press associates.
Anarchist publishing · 1886
Books and pamphlets
Freedom Press publishes and distributes books, pamphlets, translations, reprints and political histories concerning anarchism, anarchist communism, anti-fascism, social movements, pacifism and libertarian social thought. Its catalogue has included works by Peter Kropotkin, Errico Malatesta, Colin Ward, Vernon Richards, Donald Rooum and other writers.
Controversies
2018
Undercover policing connection
Freedom Press became a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry after a former undercover Metropolitan Police officer was confirmed to have contributed to the paper in 1980 and 1981.
2013
Second arson attack
An arson attack caused significant damage to the premises on 1 February, though no one was injured.
1993
Neo-fascist firebombing
The Whitechapel shop was firebombed during confrontations involving Combat 18 and anti-fascist groups.
1945
War Commentary prosecution
Vernon Richards, Marie-Louise Berneri, John Hewetson and Philip Sansom were arrested and prosecuted over the anti-militarist newspaper War Commentary and allegations concerning the armed forces.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Freedom newspaper archive digitisation
International
Freedom Press began digitising its historical newspaper holdings to make a large run of issues available to researchers and readers online.
Outcome. The project created broad digital access to more than 1,500 issues spanning the publication's historical run.
- 1945Freedom Press Defence Committee
United Kingdom
Prominent writers, artists and public figures formed a committee to defend Freedom Press associates prosecuted over the newspaper's anti-war writing and alleged efforts to undermine military morale.
Outcome. The campaign publicised the free-expression issues surrounding the prosecution and helped mobilise support for the press.
Brand decisions
2017
Digital preservation and archive launchStrategyBackground
The press sought to preserve and broaden access to its long historical newspaper record.
Action taken
It digitised more than 1,500 issues of Freedom and made the archive available online.
Aftermath
Researchers and readers gained digital access to material dating from the newspaper's nineteenth-century origins.
2014
Shift from a full monthly newspaper to online publishing and occasional printStrategyBackground
The collective faced financial losses associated with sustaining the regular newspaper after an arson attack and broader operating pressures.
Action taken
It closed the full monthly newspaper format, moved most content online and continued with a less regular freesheet.
Aftermath
Freedom Press continued its news, bookselling and publishing work while preserving a printed presence in reduced form.
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