Our History

Our paper mills have deep historical roots. Wansbrough Mill and Higher Kings Mill were both making paper by 1750. Hollins Mill converted from a bleach works to a paper mill in 1844 and Kemsley Mill was built by Edward Lloyd in 1925, originally to produce newsprint.

The current UK owned St Regis Paper Company was formed in 1985, when a consortium of Directors acquired the mills from St Regis International, one of the world’s largest and oldest international paper groups.

In 1986, St Regis became part of DS Smith Plc and, since then, its history has been one of constant investment and reshaping to turn it into the UK’s leading papermaker.

Kemsley Mill in Sittingbourne, Kent, was built by Edward Lloyd in 1925 to produce newsprint. At that time, its four paper machines were the largest in the world. A power station and pulp mill were also built to service the mill which was soon producing around 5,000 tonnes per week.

In 1936, Bowater acquired and expanded Kemsley Mill, increasing output on all machines. By the 70s, Kemsley had diversified into the production of corrugated case materials and fine papers. A pulp mill was added to produce semi-chemical fluting and PM3 was given a new multi-ply wet end with the ‘Manchester Former’ configuration to produce corrugated case liner.

In the late 1980s UK Paper completed a management buy out and the site was split in two. The CCM operation was sold on to St Regis and the fine paper operation remained with UK Paper and then M-real.

In 2008, DS Smith Plc acquired the entire site and began a heavy programme of investment in new infrastructure, ensuring Kemsley Mill has a long and commercially successful future in the 21st century.

Hollins Mill in Darwen, Lancashire has seen production on the site for over 600 years. Between 1392 and 1800, there was a corn mill on the land. From 1800-1843, this was replaced with a bleach works. In 1844, Charles & Harold Potter converted the bleach works into a mill for making paper.

Paper production started in 1845 with the mill manufacturing wallpaper base for conversion in the nearby Potter owned wallpaper print works. During the Second World War, paper manufacture halted and was replaced with the production of bombs, tank wheels and ammunition containers.

After the war it was decided to concentrate paper production on 3 machines: PM2 was rebuilt in 1952 and PM3 in 1953/54. The Reed & Smith group took over ownership in 1967 and St Regis bought the mill in October 1987.

During the years of St Regis ownership, the mill has received continuous investment and is now the only UK manufacturer of high quality recycled presentation liners.

Wansbrough Mill in Watchet, Somerset, was founded by William Wood in 1750. Known then as St Decuman’s, paper was made in the mill by hand using the vat method. In 1846 it was taken over by the Wansbrough family who installed paper machines. 

A devout Methodist, John Wansbrough built a chapel in the mill and enforced attendance at the weekly service. A fire destroyed most of the mill in 1889 but by 1899 five paper machines were in operation and Wansbrough Mill was the largest manufacturer of paper bags in the country. 

The mill was rescued from bankruptcy in 1903 by William Reed and it stayed in the ownership of the Reed family and the Reed & Smith group until acquired by St Regis International in 1978. David S Smith purchased the mill in 1986.

Since then, continuous investment in Wansbrough has turned it into an advanced papermaking facility with leadership in the coreboard market and the ability to back up Kemsley Mill in the production of high quality Plasterboard Liner.

On the Higher Kings Mill site in Cullumpton, Devon, paper was being made by hand by 1750. Records show that the mill was owned by a Mr Simon Mills in 1757 and was taken over by a Mr Theodore Dart in 1799. 

There followed a number of different owners of whom one of the most significant was Albert Reed who purchased the mill in 1883. His brother, William Reed, established a partnership with a Mr C King Smith.

The Reed & Smith group (which acquired New Taplow Mill in 1950) became one of the biggest papermakers in the UK. A Fourdrinier machine was installed in 1892 and continued to make paper at Higher Kings until a new machine was built in 1956 to make blue sugar bags and other products.

St Regis acquired Higher Kings in the early 1980s and since then the mill has diversified into making a very wide range of recycled coloured papers and boards.

Pavidda Paper Limited was established in 1992 by David and Adrian Mason and Vic Bennett to supply precision guillotined paper sheets for the hydraulic presses of the concrete slab and kerb manufacturing industry. Starting small, with just 8 people, Pavidda soon grew its business by supplying guillotined and sheeted products to the packaging industry and interleave sheets to the brick and slab industries. St Regis acquired Pavidda in 1997.