Brancepeth Castle
Origins
Dobson Books was a British publishing company founded in London by Dennis Dobson in 1944, known for its eclectic and innovative catalogue. The early lists were dominated by music, film and theatre studies, along with economics and politics. The musicology offer was particularly strong, with significant critical studies on a wide range of well-known and lesser-known composers.
Going into the 1960s science fiction became an increasingly important part of the list, with authors including Isaac Asimov, John Wyndham and Dean R Koontz. Humour was another key element, with books by Spike Milligan, Gerard Hoffnung and Ronald Searle, amongst others.
In 1951 Margaret Green joined the firm as PA, and she and Dennis were married two years later; from then on she played a central role in the company alongside Dennis, in particular developing an extensive range of titles for children and young adults, both fiction and non-fiction.
In the 1960s and 70s Dobson Books was one of the major publishers of full-colour picture books, including the Elmer and Mr Benn series by David McKee, and books illustrated by Carol Barker and Ralph Steadman.
The need for a new home
Dobson Books’ offices were on the ground floor of the family home at 80 Kensington Church Street, although there was little separation of the two activities in practice. Children ran in and out of the offices and were on first-name terms with many authors and printers. There was a warehouse a few minutes’ walk away in Notting Hill storing a vast inventory of books. However, by the late 1970s, the lease on the warehouse was set to expire, and the company faced the urgent need to find a new location for its stock.
The search for a suitable space led to an unexpected opportunity: Brancepeth Castle in County Durham. The medieval castle, with its expansive cellars and large rooms, offered a challenging but exciting solution. The plan was to relocate the entire operation, ensuring the continuity of Dobson Books’ publishing and distribution activities.
The Move to Brancepeth Castle
In 1978, the castle was purchased, with plans to use it as a base for both Dobson Books and the family. Sadly Dennis died just a few days after signing the paperwork, but the family proceeded with the move. The castle’s cellars, originally intended for wine and provisions, were repurposed to store thousands of books. The company continued, under Margaret’s direction, but in the course of the next three years the focus shifted from publishing new titles to managing the back stock, selling from the existing catalogue. The company was wound up following Margaret’s death in 2014.
The Dobson Books Archive
The legacy of Dobson Books is preserved in the archives at Brancepeth Castle. The collection includes original materials by authors such as Spike Milligan and Gerard Hoffnung, as well as rare political posters from the 1968 Paris uprisings. These items reflect the company’s commitment to publishing works that were both innovative and culturally significant.
The connection between Dobson Books and Brancepeth Castle remains a unique chapter in British publishing history. The castle’s cellars, still filled with the company’s books, now stand as a testament to the Dobson family’s contribution to literature and the preservation of a historic landmark.
