David & Charles
Encyclopedia
David & Charles is a publisher. The company was founded - and is still based - in the market town of Newton Abbot
, in Devon
, UK, on 1 April 1960 by David St John Thomas
and Charles Hadfield
. It first made its name publishing titles on Britain's canals and railways. In Newton Abbot, the company was based in the old railway station
building and as the business expanded they took over the locomotive shed for use as a warehouse.
During the early years D&C became particularly renowned for its classic books on the railways and canals of the UK. Since then David & Charles has expanded into many new areas; however this heritage has continued with recent books such as Memories of Steam.
In 1971, David & Charles bought Readers' Union, a group of book clubs catering to enthusiasts of needlecraft, gardening, equestrian pursuits and photography. D&C's publishing programme began to reflect these subject areas, moving away from the traditional transport titles for which it had become famous.
In 2000, David & Charles was acquired by F+W Publications (now F+W Media), a leading US publisher of special interest books and magazines. F+W's audiences include genealogists and family historians, graphic designers, fine artists, writers, crafters, quilters, photographers and woodworkers.
David & Charles is also used by F+W as a UK and Europe
distribution platform for the overseas acquired companies Krause Publications and Adams Media.
David & Charles also distributes in the UK and Europe Reader's Digest
books and the American list Dover Publications.
.
The Springburn
, Glasgow
, writer John Thomas
was the author of a series of books on Scottish
railway lines and railway companies first published in the 1960s and 1970s by David & Charles. John Marshall
was another railway historian published by the company.
Although its range has expanded enormously since, the company still publishes railway titles such as Branch Line Britain.
Postal address: David & Charles
Brunel House
Forde Close
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 4PU
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
, in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, UK, on 1 April 1960 by David St John Thomas
David St John Thomas
David St John Thomas is an English publisher and writer. He is the father of music maestro David St Thomas.- Early life and career :...
and Charles Hadfield
Charles Hadfield (historian)
Charles Hadfield was a canal historian and the author of many classic works on the British canal system, mostly published by the firm he co-founded, David & Charles.-Biography:...
. It first made its name publishing titles on Britain's canals and railways. In Newton Abbot, the company was based in the old railway station
Newton Abbot railway station
Newton Abbot railway station serves the town of Newton Abbot in Devon, England. It is from London on the Exeter to Plymouth line via the Reading to Taunton line, at the junction for the branch to . For many years it was also the junction for Moretonhampstead and the site of a large locomotive...
building and as the business expanded they took over the locomotive shed for use as a warehouse.
During the early years D&C became particularly renowned for its classic books on the railways and canals of the UK. Since then David & Charles has expanded into many new areas; however this heritage has continued with recent books such as Memories of Steam.
In 1971, David & Charles bought Readers' Union, a group of book clubs catering to enthusiasts of needlecraft, gardening, equestrian pursuits and photography. D&C's publishing programme began to reflect these subject areas, moving away from the traditional transport titles for which it had become famous.
In 2000, David & Charles was acquired by F+W Publications (now F+W Media), a leading US publisher of special interest books and magazines. F+W's audiences include genealogists and family historians, graphic designers, fine artists, writers, crafters, quilters, photographers and woodworkers.
David & Charles is also used by F+W as a UK and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
distribution platform for the overseas acquired companies Krause Publications and Adams Media.
David & Charles also distributes in the UK and Europe Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
books and the American list Dover Publications.
Publishing
Among the early titles were The Canals of the British Isles series, edited and often written by Charles Hadfield: he wrote in full or part, at least five of the volumes. Another series was the A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain (15 volumes); with the first volume written by David St John ThomasDavid St John Thomas
David St John Thomas is an English publisher and writer. He is the father of music maestro David St Thomas.- Early life and career :...
.
The Springburn
Springburn
Springburn is an inner city district in the north of the Scottish city of Glasgow, home to various working and middle-class households.Springburn developed from a small rural hamlet at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Its industrial expansion began with the establishment of a chemical...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, writer John Thomas
John Thomas (author)
John Thomas was a Scottish railway author based in Springburn, Glasgow.Most of his books were published by the Newton Abbot based publisher David & Charles.-Books:* The Springburn Story: The History of the Scottish Railway Metropolis. ....
was the author of a series of books on Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
railway lines and railway companies first published in the 1960s and 1970s by David & Charles. John Marshall
John Marshall (railway historian)
John Marshall was an English railway historian. He is best known for his three-volume history of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway 'which he greatly disliked being described as "definitive"' and for compiling The Guinness Railway Book 'which, in its six editions, is arguably the best selling...
was another railway historian published by the company.
Although its range has expanded enormously since, the company still publishes railway titles such as Branch Line Britain.
Postal address: David & Charles
Brunel House
Forde Close
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 4PU