News 37, Winter 1999
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News No 37, Winter 1999BAPH MEMBERS CELEBRATE OUR Barbara Luff organised this enlarged, exceptionally busy conference with her usual quiet efficiency and thoroughly deserved members' enthusiastic, appreciative applause at the dinner. Speakers, mill guides and all who contributed helped make it such a worthwhile conference. Meeting the Curator, Mike Grey, at the Fox Talbot Museum at
Lacock Abbey we were intrigued by his illustrated talk on photographic papers,
particularly on the latent image and shadows, and the work of W.H.F. Talbot. Frances Neale, Archivist at Wells Cathedral, gave us a privileged introduction to the Cannon's Library history. She chose particular treasures from the muniments where paper offered a challenge for her watermark specialists, and displayed delightful cases and disks of the 17th century restoration - a highlight of the conference. Saturday's guided visit to Wookey Hole mill by Mr. Barney Butters, including the caves and a demonstration of hand papermaking. At St. Cuthbert's mill nearby Mr. Kieran Green and his staff gave precious weekend time for a comprehensive tour of the papermaking processes and buildings' history, geneerously sharing their expertise. An excellent dinner was complemented by an unusual, individual interpretation of BAPH by Brian Clarke, Conservator at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge - a highly entertaining and apt contribution to our celebration evening. An early Sunday morning AGM was followed by Mr. Michael Tabb, Chief Engineer enlightening us on the history of Portals Security Paper Mill at Bathford and his family's involvement. Peter Bower illustrated one aspect of his special subject, Turner's use of paper and board as a support for oil sketches. In a succinct talk Tom Bolton gave a wide-ranging overview of the development of the international paper trade, what drives the industry today and where it is heading. Brian Attwood spoke about the now closed Bristol St. Anne's Board Mill, included discussion of developments there of the now internationally used Inverform process. Lorraine Finch, Archivist at Southampton University concluded the conference with a detailed description of the difficulties in restoring and conserving the first Duke of Wellington's letters that covered several important historic events. Conference proceedings will be published in due course. Building Paper Building paper is mentioned by Dard Hunter (1943) as paper used for lining houses. He refers to its extensive use in America after a Chicago fire in 1871; the Western Paper Company made paper from straw and waste paper for lining 10,000 houses built to accommodate the homeless. The roof of a house at the Weald & Downland Museum at Singleton in Sussex was lined with building paper, two layers of paper with tar or pitch between them used with lead sheeting. BAPH Day Conference 13th November 1999 Our Chairman, Phil Crockett, welcomed members to the conference and introduced Marie Axton whose organisation and chairing of the day were much appreciated. Concentrating on Excise and Stamp Duty markings and in relation to the uses of paper, such as on indentures and promissory notes, Harry Dagnall showed a range of examples with stamps printed from engraved plates, hand-stamped and machine-stamped papers. Russell Jones spoke of his proposed seminar on Asian manuscripts. He hoped the published proceedings would culminate in a reference book on the subject, and that a range of specimen papers could be accumulated to be bound into albums. A resume of his detective and forensic work by Peter Bower on a picture thought to be by Michelangelo left us intrigued, but in suspense until the verdict is published. Ruby Reid-Thompson detailed her work on identification and classification of watermarks from the Portland Welbeck archives in Nottingham University and the consequent watermark database. Another intrigue was offered by Richard Hills in his comments on analysing and dating very early paper found in Italy but deposited at Hereford Cathedral Library. He described it as soft, flexible, poorly beaten, white with a glowing surface - characteristics of pre middle 14th century paper. We thank all those who contributed to this wide-ranging and thought provoking event. It seems that the John Gose finale of light-hearted paper poetry and song, enlivened members to the extent that readers at the Institute of Historical Research complained. BAPH members in 'riotous assembly'? Stowford Mill - customised watermarks and bespoke paper Stowford Mill in Devon has developed a customised watermark business that enables
customers to integrate their own watermarks into the branded papers of Arjo Wiggins Fine
Paper. The mill also makes true bespoke papers and, additionally, can add an unusual
design element during the papermaking process, such as seaweed or coffee. Information Sought Paper Mills in Co. Durham I am seeking any references, history,
sources or information on any paper mill in the ancient Co. Durham for the History of the
Book Trade in the North, a voluntary project. I shall be grateful for any help, whether or
not it duplicates the information already found. Information sought on Rickford Mill, Somerset, for a Millenium project on the village. Information on the mill and the workers needed, particularly welcome would be a sample of paper or a description of the paper produced there. Charles F Purro seeks information on two watermarks. La Stella - floral design around the bottom and a star at the top, laid paper, lines 1" apart. Second watermark, crude cross formed out of an imperfect rectangular box, all within a circle, on laid paper, lines 11/4" apart. Has anyone any information on Colyton Mill near Seaton, Devon, or can suggest sources for that mill? Particularly of interest is the connection of Robert West christened at Seaton in 1792. Information sought on the apprenticeship and career of William Suter, senior, b.c. 1817, d. 1906, and the history of Standford Mill. Suter worked as journeyman paper maker, later Foreman, for Messrs. Warren at Standford Mill, Headley, Hampshire. Can anyone suggest a paper manufacturing company that was operating in the Buckinghamshire area but later relocated in Co. Durham? Would employers take experienced men with them when moving or advertise for experienced paper makers to change location. Richard Seagrove is an example of one who moved from Wooburn to Ewhurst Mill. Welburn / Wilburn / Welbourne paper makers have been found at Alder
Mills, Tamworth, Staffordshire, at Rivelin Mill, Stannington in
Yorkshire, and in Withington, Lancashire, mid and late 1800s; in
particular George, Joseph, Vivian and William. Information sought on their connection with
these mills, other sightings of paper makers with this name also welcome. Duszniki Zdroj Paper Mill In July 1998 this important historical paper mill and paper museum in Poland was hit by violent storms and suffered flood disaster. BAPH, among others, made a donation towards restoration. Thankfully the paper mill and the museum are now open and visitors are welcome. Begun 400 years ago, the mill structure dates from 1605. Restoration in the 1960s revealed fine 17th and 18th century ceiling and wall paintings. Ambrosius Tepper, first known paper maker there, was followed by genarations of just five families. Good quality paper was produced, comparable with that of the Netherlands and France, such that Anton Heller of Duszniki was appointed Royal Paper Purveyor in 1750. Machines replaced hand-making in the early 1900s, but failed by 1939 so the mill closed. Hand making of paper was resumed in 1971. Museum Papiernictwa, 57-340 Duszniki Zdroj, ul. Klodska 42. (tel: (0-74) 669-248; fax: (0-74) 669-020) Ivy Mill Maidstone, Kent - Insurance Details of an insurance policy for Ivy Mill, Maidstone in Kent that does not appear in
Shorter (1957) from Mary Day, submitted by Alan Crocker. In Memoriam Judith Chantry of the Ashmolean Library, Oxford and a member of BAPH died recently. There is an obituary in The Quarterly No. 32. Basil Harley of Little Barrington, Burford died on 31st August after a long illness. He wrote a short history of the paper mill at Little Barrington and had been a member of BAPH since 1995. |
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