Donside Papermill Works and Workers
Date1950s-1990s
Object NamePhotograph
MediumPaper and film.
ClassificationsPapermaking
AcquisitionPresented in 2002.
Object numberABDMS060640
About MeAlthough papermaking had been introduced to the Gordon Mills site, adjacent to what was to become Donside Papermill, as early as 1696 the Donside mill was only established in 1890. It ran one papermaking machine capable of manufacturing 50 tons of paper per week. By 1920 the mill was producing some 400 tons of newsprint per week. Through the 1950s and 1960s further expansion occurred and the company turned to the manufacture of coated papers. This necessitated the introduction of new expensive technologies. Competition through the 1970s and 1980s saw many changes in business structure and the search for new products and markets. In the 1990s the company was producing high quality coated art papers as it attempted to maintain its economic viability. And again business restructuring was forced on the company. In July 2001 the company was said to be unviable and liquidators were called in. The mill closed and over 250 workers lost their jobs. Subsequently the site was put up for sale, machines sold and part of the area cleared.
