Fighting Cock Press came into being in 1996 when Mabel Ferrett and Pauline Kirk began to collaborate in publishing high-quality literary works, and provides an outlet for the poetry and artwork of Pennine Poets as well as poetry and short stories by other Northern writers. Grants from the the National Lottery and Arts Council have enabled the Press to publish anthologies of poetry, prose and artwork, and to advise and support more than a hundred writers.

Pennine Poets is a group of published writers who meet for regular creative writing workshops, stage readings and festivals. The group was founded at Elland Library in 1966, and was based for many years at the home of Mabel Ferrett in Heckmondwike. As well Mabel Ferrett and Pauline Kirk, the founders of Fighting Cock Press, the Poets include Andrew Boobier, John Cook, Julia Deakin, Simon Currie, Ian Emberson, Lesley Quayle, K.E. Smith and Joyce Thornton. Mabel Ferrett died in January 2011: her son John Ferrett acts as a consultant to Fighting Cock Press.