Mitchell House

 

Mitchell House is one of the island’s oldest and most unique institutions.  Built in the 1730s by a prosperous St. George’s merchant, Major Walter Mitchell, for his nephew William, Mitchell House has retained all of its 18th century character and charm.

 

The ‘welcoming arms’ stairs invite you in to view a collection that evokes by-gone daily routines, early travel patterns, and printing process as well as the impact of momentous external events including the American Revolution and Civil War.

 

The St. George’s Historical Society purchased the property at the corner of Featherbed Alley and Duke of Kent Street in 1922.

 

Open 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Saturday April-November and 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday only, January-March.

 

Featherbed Printer Press

 

This shop is located on Featherbed Alley, just around the corner from the Historical Society Museum and has the particularity to be the exact replica of an 18th century printshop.

 

The Featherbed Alley Printery museum features amongst other pieces a replica of the Gutenberg press, the one which was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1445. This was the first printing book which served to print the first ever book, the Gutenberg Bible in 1452. The museum is housed on the lower level of the Mitchell House, built in the 1720′s, in what used to be the servants’ quarters. Featherbed Alley Printery is for the most part dedicated to the first printing business of Bermuda, which published the first island’s newspaper, the Bermuda Gazette in 1784.

 

Its owner Joseph Stockdale used to operate its business from the cellar of his house on Printer’s Alley. The newspaper lost many of its subscribers when it was moved to Hamilton after it became the capital of Bermuda in 1815 and was forced to close down. Early editions of the Bermuda Gazette can also be seen in the museum.

 

The replica Gutenberg press of the Featherbed Alley Printery was used for more than 300 years and is still able to produce printed material. It can be seen in action 5 days a week thanks to the passionate people who run the museum. The place is open to the public for a small fee Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and closed between 11am and 2pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

 

Admission: Adults, $5.00, children, $2.00