Two Rivers Press

Two Rivers Press is an independent publishing house based in Reading, England. Founded in 1994 by local artist Peter Hay, the press developed from an interest in the relationship between place, art, and history. Its name refers to Reading’s location at the meeting of the River Kennet and the River Thames, while also recalling the local campaign against a proposed Cross-Town Route. That road scheme threatened the area where the two rivers meet and helped provide the civic and cultural context from which the publishing venture emerged. The press’s catalogue is strongly rooted in Reading and the surrounding region. A substantial portion of its books examines local history, architecture, communities, personalities, landscapes, and cultural institutions. Rather than treating local publishing as merely commemorative, Two Rivers Press has used books to document and interpret the changing character of the area. Its output connects historical research with accessible presentation, helping make regional subjects available to general readers as well as to local specialists. Poetry is another central part of the imprint. Two Rivers Press has issued new editions of classic poems with a Reading connection, including Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol, and has published collections by contemporary poets living in or associated with the region. This combination of literary reissues and new writing reflects the press’s broader interest in the intersection of cultural heritage and contemporary creative work. The company has published more than 70 titles according to the available reference material. Its catalogue therefore spans local history, poetry, literary editions, and related cultural subjects rather than concentrating on a single commercial genre. The press operates at an independent scale, with its identity closely tied to editorial selection and regional knowledge. Its books serve both as literary publications and as records of place. Following Peter Hay’s death in 2003, management and editorial responsibilities continued through a small team. The press is described as being managed by Sally Mortimer, with Adam Sowan serving as local history editor and Peter Robinson combining poetry-editing responsibilities with his academic role as Professor of English and American Literature at the University of Reading. This structure reinforces the imprint’s connection to Reading’s artistic, historical, and academic communities. Two Rivers Press is best understood as a regional independent publisher rather than a mass-market or internationally scaled publishing corporation. Its distinctive positioning comes from sustained attention to Reading and the Thames–Kennet landscape, alongside a literary programme that gives particular prominence to poetry and locally connected classics. The company’s continuing catalogue preserves regional memory while supporting writers and subjects linked to the place in which it operates.

Two Rivers Press was established in Reading in 1994 by Peter Hay, a local artist born in 1951. Hay’s publishing project was shaped by a strong attachment to Reading and by an interest in the way artistic and historical interpretation could illuminate a place. The company’s name refers to the River Kennet and the River Thames, which meet in Reading. It also alludes to the campaign opposing the proposed Cross-Town Route, a road project that would have substantially affected the rivers’ meeting point. The opposition to that scheme formed part of the local civic background from which the press emerged. From its beginning, the press adopted a regional and cultural remit. Local history became a major part of the catalogue, with publications devoted to Reading’s past, built environment, communities, and notable cultural subjects. The imprint’s work has helped preserve and circulate research about the town and its surrounding area in book form, while generally presenting specialist or archival material for a broad readership. Two Rivers Press also developed a poetry programme. It published new editions of classic poems that had a connection with Reading, notably Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol, and issued collections by contemporary poets resident in or associated with the region. The combination of historical publishing and poetry gave the press an identity broader than that of a conventional local-history imprint. It linked documentary interest in place with literary responses to place. Peter Hay died in 2003. After his death, the press continued as an independent operation with management and editorial work distributed among a small group. Available reference material identifies Sally Mortimer as manager, Adam Sowan as local history editor, and Peter Robinson as poetry editor. Robinson also holds an academic position as Professor of English and American Literature at the University of Reading, reinforcing the press’s relationship with local intellectual and cultural networks. The company has published more than 70 titles. Its catalogue remains focused on Reading, the Thames–Kennet area, local history, poetry, and related literary or cultural subjects. Rather than competing as a large general publisher, Two Rivers Press has maintained a specialist independent identity grounded in regional knowledge and carefully selected books. Its continuing purpose is to document the area’s history, celebrate its cultural life, and provide a platform for poetry and other writing connected with Reading.

• 2003

  Founder Peter Hay dies

  [1]Two Rivers Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Hay dies, after which the press continues under a small management and editorial team.

• 1994

  Two Rivers Press is founded

  [1]Two Rivers Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Local artist Peter Hay establishes Two Rivers Press in Reading, creating an independent imprint focused on the relationship between place, history, art, and literature.

• Catalogue exceeds 70 titles

  [1]Two Rivers Pressen.wikipedia.org

  The press’s published output grows to more than 70 titles across local history, poetry, literary editions, and related regional subjects.

An independent regional publisher combining accessible local history with poetry, literary reissues, and writing connected to Reading and the surrounding Thames–Kennet landscape.

• Local history · 1994

  Local history publications

  Two Rivers Press publishes books examining Reading and the surrounding Thames–Kennet region. These works cover aspects of local history, places, buildings, communities, and cultural life. The programme reflects the press’s founding connection with Reading and its aim of making regional history available through well-focused, accessible books.

• Poetry

  Poetry collections

  The poetry list includes collections by contemporary poets who live in or are connected with the Reading area. This strand gives the press a living literary role in addition to its historical publishing, supporting new writing associated with the region and its communities.

• Classic poetry edition

  The Ballad of Reading Gaol

  Two Rivers Press has published a new edition of Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol, a classic poem directly associated with Reading. The title exemplifies the imprint’s practice of revisiting literary works with a meaningful local connection.

• 1994Opposition to the proposed Cross-Town Route

  Reading, England

  The press’s name recalls local opposition to a proposed Cross-Town Route road scheme that would have seriously affected the point where the River Kennet meets the River Thames. The campaign formed part of the civic and cultural context associated with the press’s creation.

  Outcome. The road proposal was ultimately defeated, according to the reference material.

  Source

1. 1Two Rivers Pressen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Two Rivers Press official websitetworiverspress.com