Country house book launches University Press

13 April 2005

A fascinating book about one of the region’s grandest country houses will mark the launch of the University of Plymouth’s own press facility next week.

The University of Plymouth Press (UPP), located within the University’s newly-refurbished School of Media and Photography, is to mark its official opening with the launch of A Devon House: The Story of Poltimore by Jocelyn Hemming – with a foreword written by broadcasting star Joan Bakewell, who also presented the case for Poltimore on the BBC programme Restoration.

The book, edited by Peter Howard, will be launched at 6 pm on Friday 22 April at the Cube3 Gallery in the university’s Portland Square building and members of the public are welcome. Jocelyn will be on hand to sign copies of the book and to discuss the history and people associated with Poltimore House since Tudor times. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards the restoration of the house.

Head of UPP Paul Honeywill said: "We are delighted to mark the introduction of the UPP with the launch of Jocelyn’s book as UPP will publish many works that extend the intellectual reach of scholarship – while helping to define new areas of knowledge and learning. UPP will also foster understanding and partnerships between various communities to enrich the cultural life of the region and aims to deliver this through creative innovations in printing and new publishing media. This will create exciting opportunities for UPP to bring together outside agencies – in partnership with schools and faculties within the University – for developing and deploying contemporary publishing in creative and innovative ways."

Jocelyn said: "We at Poltimore House are pleased the UPP is to publish this book, which we feel brings the history of the house and its people to life and helps pave the way towards a future for the building."

Steven Parissien, Dean of the university’s Faculty of Arts, said: "UPP enables us to present scholarship in an authoritative yet accessible way, and to demolish some of the perceived boundaries between Higher Education and the public. Jocelyn's book is a brilliant way of starting this initiative; we hope this study of Poltimore will be the first of many UPP publications – products that will help cement the link between the University of Plymouth and cultural innovation."

ENDS

For further information please email: publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk. For information about UPP please contact Paul Honeywill (email: paul.honeywill@plymouth.ac.uk) or visit: www.uppress.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:
Members of the media are invited to the launch event. Please contact Samantha McKay, contact details above, to arrange attendance.