Just as the invention of the internet and e-mail is transforming communication today, so developments in printing revolutionised reading 500 years ago.

Johann Gutenberg invented movable type in the mid-15th century, which meant readers no longer depended on scribes to hand-copy books.

And in Tiptree there are a team of keen printing experts who want to keep the craft alive and share it with future generations.

In 1900, the Anchor Press was founded in Tiptree and the book printing press became a cornerstone of industry in the village until after changing hands several times, owner Courier International announced in 1990 it was moving the firm to Scotland.

A team of volunteers has been collecting presses and details about printing and has a dream of creating Tiptree's own non profit-making museum to celebrate the industry.

Their aims are threefold - to preserve items from the industry, record the development of printing, particularly in Tiptree, and run a hands-on workshop to teach the skills of five centuries of the craft.

One volunteer worked in the Street of Ink, Fleet Street, others at Anchor Press, while spokesman Justin Knopp developed a passion for printing as a graphic design student at Central St Martin's College in London.

He said: "The preservation of our printing heritage is the basis for our bid to set up a working printing museum in the village. We sincerely believe the skills and machinery used in the craft of printing with movable type may be lost forever."

The project has had financial support from jam makers Wilkin and Sons, and has attracted interest from other village residents, including some former Anchor Press workers.

The project already has two Albion printing presses, one which needs six people to move it - but they are being stored in garages or in loaned space.

The museum is set to acquire an exceptional collection of printers types, woodletter and other composing equipment worth £5,000, which it aims to pay for over three years.

Most of this collection dates from the early 1900s, all of the type is of the highest quality and was cast by the leading English typefoundries of the era.

The museum had a large donation of books and journals on printing dating back to 1914 and other useful reference books have been donated individually.

"Members feel strongly that although the future of the museum is uncertain, if we are able to accommodate items that would otherwise be scrapped, then we should do so."

The volunteers are still hunting for a suitable home to get the idea off the ground.

It had hoped it might find a site on the former Tiptree Book Services site at Church Road, when it is developed, but developers Lonjdon and Amsterdam said it was not possible.

But the rim did give the project £5,000 unconditionally to prepare a business plan and feasibility study into the possibility of opening a museum in Tiptree.

London and Amsterdam director Ben Rainford said: "We have always said in the future, a lot of land is being turned over to the community to use as a community centre."

He said it was the community's decision if it wanted to include a museum in the building.

Mr Knopp said early indications showed interest from schools saying they would like to bring pupils to learn about printing and volunteers keen to share their expertise.

At the moment, it seems the printing museum will have to remain a dream - until it finds a home so others can share its treasures.

They had hoped a suitable site could be found in the Tesco supermarket, business unit and housing development proposed for the former Tiptree Book Services land on Church Road.

But developers London and Amsterdam said it was not possible, although they offered the chance to rent a house fronting on to Church Road for the museum.

This offer was turned down as the museum project could only occupy the house for up to one year, until the land was redeveloped and nearly all of the equipment the project has in storage would either be too big or too heavy to display in the house.

London and Amsterdam has given the project £5,000 unconditionally to prepare a business plan and feasibility study into the possibility of opening a museum in Tiptree.

Mr Knopp said things early indications show there would be interest in the museum, with schools saying they would like to bring pupils to learn about printing and volunteers keen to share their expertise.

London and Amsterdam director Ben Rainford said: "We have always said in the future, a lot of land is being turned over to the community to use as a community centre."

He said it was the community's decision if it wanted to include a museum in the building.

Mr Knopp said: "It is of paramount importance that the museum is sited somewhere on the former Anchor Press site due to its central location in the village and for its historical importance.

Many ex-employees of the Anchor Press and other local people have offered their help with setting up and running this museum if we are successful in gaining a building."

At the moment, it seems the printing museum will have to remain a dream - until it finds a home so others can share its treasures.

One of the presses cost £300, which was paid for by donations and the other one came from a school in Rayleigh where it had been since the 1930s. It was common for schools to have their own presses.

The other press, from Southend, had been outside for 18 years and needed a lot of work. R J Cannon at the Forge in Tiptree provided the expertise and now the press needs just one part to get it working.

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