Paper Mills on R.Dour

Crabble Corn Mill 2000

The End of Papermaking on the River Dour

Historical highlights
Milestones
Map of paper mills on the River Dour
During 2000, Arjo Wiggins' Paper Mill at Buckland in Dover will close - marking the end of several hundred years of paper making on the River Dour. 200 years ago, there were as many paper mills as flour mills along the small chalk stream...

1. HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

papermill
Buckland Paper Mill 1770 - showing the waterwheel that powered pulping machinery housed in a thatched workshop with drying loft above

Dover and the clean chalk waters of the River Dour have been the home of paper-making since the birth of the industry in England.

In the 18th century water-powered paper "vat mills" were dotted along the River Dour.
Britain's first paper-making making machine was installed at Crabble Paper Mill.
A device that puts a watermark on fine paper was invented in Dover the "dandy roll".
Bushy Ruff House was built from the profits of the adjoining papermill, which was powered by water from the lake.
River Paper Mill made special brown paper to wrap army cartridges, and blue paper to wrap sugar when it was sold loose.
"Conqueror", the leading business paper brand has been made in Dover since its inception over 100 years ago.

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machine
Crabble Paper Mill 1807 - had possibly Britain's first Fourdrinier paper-making machine installed, described as "...a curious machine for making paper of any length."

(left) Wiggins Teape stationers shop in London 1880 - at a time of boom in the paper industry, they had been searching the country in vain for a mill that would agree a really cheap price for making business paper to a new specification. Buckland Mill had just been rebuilt after a fire, and was desperate for business to get going again. Later Wiggins Teape bought the mill, and the paper - called "Conqueror" became its main product.

(right) No 3 machine inside Buckland Mill in 1911 - by that time, the mill was powered by steam engines, bur continued to rely on clean chalk water pumped up from wells on site.

Paper

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River Paper Mill (above) - its ruins and the millpond can still be seen. in the grounds of Kearsney Abbey.

Map of Water-powered Paper Mills (left) - papermills along the R.Dour, 1800-50 - Customs & Excise records show there were six paper mills working along the river in the early 19th century.

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Last changed 29th December 1999 © Copyright Ian Killbery 1999

1. HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
	Buckland Paper Mill 1770 - showing the waterwheel that powered pulping machinery housed in a thatched workshop with drying loft above


	River Paper Mill (above) - its ruins and the millpond can still be seen. in the grounds of Kearsney Abbey.
	Map of Water-powered Paper Mills (left) - papermills along the R.Dour, 1800-50 - Customs & Excise records show there were six paper mills working along the river in the early 19th century.