PrintWorks (The Lancastrian)
In Wolfland circa 2450AD newspapers are the most important way that people learn what’s happening in the world. Without radio, television, or the internet, newspapers are how communities share not only the news, but also items of general interest, ideas, and stories. The Lancastrian is printed in a large industrial building specially designed for the purpose. Just beyond the city centre the PrintWorks on the corner of Penny Street and Common Garden Street is a large, Victorian style industrial building, similar in appearance to an engine shed. The double height main hall is very tall to accommodate the huge printing press which is powered by belts and wheels and sometimes electricity or sometimes by hand.
Strong wrought-iron frames support the building, while wooden floors help absorb vibration from the heavy machinery. The print hall shown here is only half of the entire building. It’s bright, with large windows that allow daylight to help workers see clearly and reduce the need for artificial light.
Owned and run by Franklin and Faraday, they print the weekly newspaper The Lancastrian, and the weekly comics Spitfire and LipStick.
Next to the tall print hall is the second half of the building. Contained within a similar amount of space are:
- Ground floor:
- Store rooms for paper, ink, and supplies
- Workshops where machines are repaired and maintained
- A loading and dispatch area purpose built for horses and carts, which brings in raw materials and carries out finished newspapers and comic books
- First floor:
- The editor’s office is placed at the centre of operations
- An internal window in the editor’s office overlooks the print floor
- A copy room where journalists write and edit articles
- A creative room for the art director, who works on illustrations and page design
- A small kitchen and staff room, and also staff toilets