The Quarterly, No. 14 – March 1995
The Marking of Paper for Excise Duty – H. Dagnall
The statutory requirements relating to British Excise duties on paper were complex and made up a "tangled thread of taxation". The regulations were detailed, difficult to comply with and increasingly burdensome on papermakers. These regulations, which were to protect the revenue against fraud, throw much light on the process of papermaking in the 18th and 19th centuries, this, however, is outside the scope of this article which is concerned with the ways in which parcels of paper were marked to denote the assessment of duty.
7 pages, illustrated
Offensive Effluvium Invades East Malling – M J Fuller
An account of a court action brought against the papermakers Messrs. Busbridge and Hodge for polluting the East Malling stream in 1859. Much of the history of the East Malling Mills is revealed in the exchanges between plaintiffs and defendants, taken from newspaper reports, as well as history relating to the surrounding area.
7 pages, illustrated, map
Book Review
Mechanisms of Image Deterioration in Early Photographs by Mike Ware. Published by the Science Museum and the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television.
British Watermarks: Martha Lay and Anne Blackwell – Peter Bower
Although women have always played a very large part in making paper by hand, from rag sorting to quality control, it is rare to find their names recorded in watermarks. Martha Lay took over the
running of St. Mary Cray Mill, Kent in 1804 on the death of her husband Samuel and ran it until 1816. Anne Blackwell ran Nash Mills, Hertfordshire from the death of her husband William in 1777 until 1802.
2 pages, illustrated
British Papermills: Ruthven and Methven – R L Hills and J Reece
Brief histories of the papermills at Ruthven and Methven, some three to four miles north west of Perth. Ruthven operated from about 1767 till around 1804, Methven was established later, probably 1776 or 1786, and ceased trading between 1837 and 1844.
3 pages, illustrated
Miscellany: Images of Papermaking
Artists throughout the centuries have painted, drawn, etched and engraved paper mills and the various activities that take place in them. Little is known about many of these images: where and when, or for what purpose, they were made. For example, there are unresolved questions with both the works reproduced here. If you have any information please contact the editor.
The Quarterly No. 15 – June 1995
British Paper Mills: The Afonwen Mills, North Wales – Richard Hills
There have been two paper mills at Afonwen. The first, Wheeler or Afonwen, Mill 444, was in operation from 1786 until 1918. The second, Afonwen, Mill 501, was in operation from about 1822 until
1874. The article covers the history of both, concentrating in particular on the longer history of Mill 444, with notes on the subsequent uses of the buildings.
7 pages, illustrated, appendix
British Bibliography of Paper History and Watermark Studies, No 2, 1994 – Peter
Bower
A listing of publications and articles relating to paper history and allied topics published in 1994.
2 pages
Book Reviews
Somebody said that it couldn't be done. Autobiography by Kenneth Horne.
Uncoated Papers Technical Guide. Published by Robert Horne.
Coated Papers Technical Guide. Published by Robert Horne.
Miscellany: A Quire of Paper
Extract from Mary Kettilby's, A Collection of above three hundred receipts in cookery, physick, and surgery for the use of all good wives, tender mothers and careful nurses, by
several hands. Published in London, 1714.
Thin Cream Pancakes Call'd a Quire of Paper
- 1 pint light cream combined with 1/4 pound melted
butter. - 8 eggs
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 tablespoons sherry
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon orange extract
- dash of grated nutmeg
Combine all the ingredients except the flour. Add a little of the liquid to the flour, slowly, in order to keep it smooth. When the flour is well diluted and smooth, add it to the balance of the batter. Have ready a small heavy skillet, preferably one 6 inches in diameter. Heat, until a small dab of butter will foam in it. Use only enough of the batter to run thinly over the bottom of the skillet. Cook until golden. Turn and finish on the other side. Sprinkle each pancake with granulated sugar, piling them one on top of the other as evenly as possible. Keep warm in the oven. A dab of orange marmalade or any jelly on top of the hot stack is a handsome finish and will melt and ooze down the
sides.
These quantities will make 20 6-inch pancakes, which will wait patiently in a warm oven until you are ready to serve them.
Picture Miscellany
Turn of the 20th century photographs showing the activities of two finishing departments in Purfleet and Buckland Mills.
British Watermarks: Prince of Wales' Feathers – Peter Bower and Richard Hills
Companion article to the history of Afonwen Mills, the complexities of who was operating the Afonwen Mills is reflected in the problems faced when considering the various watermarks attributed to them. Some of these contain the Prince of Wales' Feathers and authorities such as Shorter and Heawood
have attributed these marks to Afonwen. Close examination of the known examples throws up many inconsistencies, this article examines some of the other possibilities.
5 pages, illustrated
The Quarterly No. 16 – September 1995
Recollections of Dartford Paper Mills – John Firrell, with additional material by Alan Vickers
A reprint of an article first published in Gatefold, the magazine of the Wiggins Teape Pensioners Association, in which the author details developments at the mills from his arrival in 1934, up until the 1980's. The trials and tribulations of running a papermill, keeping up with new developments and the problems of diversification are covered in some detail. Additional information on sheet finishing in the early 1960's is provided by Alan Vickers.
6 pages, illustrated
British Watermarks: Further Information on Prince of Wales' Feathers Watermarks – Peter Bower
Further information as a supplement to "Prince of Wales' Feathers Watermarks" in The Quarterly, No 15, regarding the possibility that Molineux and Johnston of Isfield and Lewes Mills, Sussex may have been responsible for some of the known examples of this watermark.
1 page
British Paper Mills: Wansford Mill, Northamptonshire – John L. Gilbert
Situated in the grounds of Stibbington House, near the river Nene, some eight miles west of
Peterborough is a building known as the Soll, this is all that remains of Wansford Paper Mills, which at one time supplied paper to The Times. The article gives the history of this mill and its occupants from the first recorded reference to a paper mill in 1704, to its closure in 1859. Some details of the previous and subsequent history are also provided.
6 pages, illustrated
The Quarterly No. 16 Supplement – September 1995
Surrey Watermarks – Alan Crocker
Forty paper mills are known to have existed in the historic county of Surrey, including the modern boroughs of south west London and a few on Surrey's boundaries with Hampshire and Sussex. During the last twenty years the author has researched the history of these mills and collected watermarks from the twenty four or more which produced hand-made paper. This article provides a comprehensive list of the watermarks discovered together with selected tractings. Brief accounts of the relevant periods of history of the mills are also presented. Mills covered are:-
- On the Upper river Wey: Haslemere Mills, Barford Mills,
Godalming Mills. - On the Tillingbourne: Chilworth, Albury and Postford
Mills. - On the Lower River Wey: Stoke Mill, Bower's Mill, Byfleet
and Ham Haw Mills. - On the River Mole: Down Mill.
- On the Hogsmill River: Ewell Mill.
- On the River Wandle: Carshalton Mills, Morden and Merton
Mills. - On the Neckinger: Neckinger Mill.
A table of the hand-made paper mills is provided with periods of operation, and Appendices of known watermarks in Surrey paper and Surrey papermakers whose marks are not known. Fifty eight watermarks are illustrated.
16 pages, table, maps, illustrated, appendices