Stenlake Publishing

Stenlake Publishing Independent publishing house founded in 1987. Stenlake's books hark back to a slower, quieter, simpler age.

Our 'Old' and 'Bygone' list of titles is bathed in nostalgia, replete with sepia images of long lost neighbourhoods, great houses and architecture, industries and skills that made Britain great and ways of life missed by many. We also cater to collectors and enthusiasts with our luxurious books on china, aviation, the history of ships and shipbuilding, horticulture and our detailed 'Lost Railways'

series. We also have some beautifully illustrated children's titles. We invite you to log on to our our website, pour yourself a glass of wine or a cup of tea, relax and browse a while.

Sadly, after a long illness, our colleague Isabell Mitchell passed away just before Christmas. Isabell was a cheery "bud...
30/12/2025

Sadly, after a long illness, our colleague Isabell Mitchell passed away just before Christmas. Isabell was a cheery "buddy" and was employed at Stenlake Publishing for over 25 years. She loved her work and will be well known and much missed by our staff, our customers and our suppliers. We send our condolences to Isabell's family.

Please note our office will be closed all day on Monday 12th January. Funeral details as below.

This is a straight reprint in softback of the Oakwood book first published in 1999 as a hardback, albeit with a new fron...
04/11/2025

This is a straight reprint in softback of the Oakwood book first published in 1999 as a hardback, albeit with a new front cover image. Boyd’s book built on a previous small Oakwood book on the subject by A T Newham published in 1964. The Schull and Skibbereen Railway operated in Ireland’s West County Cork, but is more aptly called a Tramway. The story of this light railway has been variously described as colourful, eventful and fascinating. Originally conceived of as two railways, botched construction began in 1885. The line opened in 1886, only for service to be suspended in 1887 for a year, as recounted in the chapters A Shaky Start and Nothing but Trouble, followed by Worrying Times. Although things settled down after this, in the period 1916-1925 the railway was much affected by wider political events in Ireland. During WW2 although Ireland was not a participant, the shortages it brought had an impact on the Schull and Skibbereen. The railway became part of CIE in 1945 but this was amidst a fuel crisis resulting in passenger services being withdrawn before abandonment in 1956. With nineteen chapters and four appendices Boyd’s account is very comprehensive; in 1999 the Southern Star described it as “definitive and containing many beautiful photographs, sketches and charts”. Another press review called it “a classic”. Many years on we have brought the book back into print. With 280 pages and 200 illustrations. RRP £25.95. Available from your favourite bookseller or direct from ourselves. We have a website at www.stenlake.co.uk but we are always happy to take orders on the phone also on 01290 551122

This was first published in 1967 as a slim volume by A T Newham going through two printings. In 1989 Oakwood published a...
29/07/2025

This was first published in 1967 as a slim volume by A T Newham going through two printings. In 1989 Oakwood published a new edition by Michael Foster incorporating Newham’s work and it is this edition which we are have now reprinted many years on since it was last available, with a new cover design. The railway, between Listowel and Ballybunion, County Kerry, Ireland opened in 1888. Unusually it was a monorail built by the Lartigue Construction Company of France. Until the First World War the railway was able to keep its head above water financially due to both local and tourist traffic, but the war and the turbulence that followed played havoc with the finances. When the government of the new Free State were considering grouping railways into the Great Southern Railway, the Listowel & Ballybunion didn’t figure in their plans. By 1924 the inevitable had happened and the last train had ran.
With 112 pages and 100 illustrations retail price £14.95.

Where we publish books about presidents and prime ministers follow. As I write Keir Starmer has arrived at Turnberry Hot...
28/07/2025

Where we publish books about presidents and prime ministers follow. As I write Keir Starmer has arrived at Turnberry Hotel in South Ayrshire having travelled there from Prestwick Airport. Presumably he went in a motorcade better able to negotiate the Whitletts Roundabout than I am. Up until 1930 Keir would have been able to take a train from Prestwick south through Ayr and thence down the picturesque Maidens and Dunure Light Railway which went on to the golf resort and hotel at Turnberry built by the old Glasgow & South Western Railway in the 1900s. Passenger services part of the way were revived after WW2 when Billy Butlin opened a holday camp at Heads of Ayr having snapped up a redundant naval base. Meantime potato trains continued to use the Turnberry line until closure in 1968. Published in 2010 our Oakwood title on the line was written by Stuart Rankin and the late David McConnell. This is a very comprehensive study of the line at just over 300 pages and comprising 21 chapters and seven appendices. We still have stock from the original printing and, thanks to 15 years of inflation whittling away at it, the 2010 published price of £19.95 means this is now great value.

After some lunch, chit-chat and a couple of rounds of Crazy Golf, messrs Starmer and Trump are using the lucky dip option on the Stenlake website and heading off to Balmedie in Aberdeenshire, possibly mugging up on the history of the area using Rosie Nicol's book.

Address

54-58 Mill Square
Catrine
KA56RD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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Our Story

In an age of change Stenlake Publishing is an old-fashioned independent book publisher based in the west of Scotland in the heart of Burns country. We are best known for our books on old towns, transport and industrial history, but we have a thousand titles in print between our various imprints namely Stenlake Publishing, Oakwood Press (railways mainly) and Alloway Publishing (Robert Burns & other general interest titles). We also have books on bee-keeping, horticulture, studio pottery and some other odds and ends. All our books are shown on our website at www.stenlake.co.uk but please like our page to keep abreast of new titles and quirky commentary. You can buy or books on-line on our website, from other online retailers, from good bookshops (any bookshop still open qualifies for the epithet good), on the phone, or by calling at our Catrine factory shop Monday to Friday 9 to 5 except holidays.