World war II

The Second World War brought a very traumatic period in company and family history. In a bombing raid of May 4th 1942, fire bombs rained on the medieval centre of Exeter and caused enormous destruction of historic buildings. The Cathedral survived, but the Pollard family was hit particularly badly. Not only was the printing factory completely destroyed, but so too was Herbert Pollard’s family home. He and his wife, Elizabeth, stood in the street and watched their house burn. At the factory, the compositors’ lead type melted and flowed over the floor. There was not much left.