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Chris BennettWe have received this from the Hon Sec of Sawston Village History Society
Sawston Paper Mill, known as Edward Towgood & Sons Ltd, closed in March 1974. It was a phased closure with the team packing reams of paper and office staff being the last to leave. The mill had been sold to Messrs Spicer Ltd in 1917 but they retained the name Towgood. It is likely cheap imported paper from China killed off the quality paper produced by British paper mills.
Towgood’s mill was renowned for producing top quality paper made from rags for the Lloyds Registers, as well as cheaper paper made from wood pulp.
They also owned a farm with prize pigs of the Large White and Large Black breeds. Brochure dated 1922.
The paper mill had its own railway branch line to the factory from the London to Cambridge line with sidings and a signal box nearer to the Spicers factory.
The Mill House, a large double fronted house, stood to the west of the factory and in earlier years an annual fête and sports day for children and adults was held in the grounds. I remember going one year out of curiosity, possibly 1952 or 53.
Spicers gave the land for the first Village College and also the Sports Field with Bowls Green.
I’ve some more technical information collected by my late husband but I guess you know the basic principles of paper making.
I hope this helps.