Keynsham Paper Mill (Bristol)

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  • 4th August 2016 at 11:43 #286
    Chris Bennett
    Keymaster

     

    Mill Keynsham Mill
    Also known as Avon Paper Mill
    Address Keynsham, Bristol, Somerset, BS31 2UG
    Nat Grid Location ST660688
    Companies E. S. & A. Robinson; Dickinson Robinson Group Ltd (DRG); SAPPI
    English Mill Excise No ND
    Est. Papermaking Start Date 1827
    Date Closed 1-Apr-1995
    Links
    Link1 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/6d9d6ea8-6d74-4298-896d-06f1eaeb1889
    Link2 http://www.binson.co.uk/robinsons/robinsons.htm#keynsham
    Britain from Above http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw032285

     

    • This topic was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by Chris Bennett. Reason: Removal of status line
    17th November 2020 at 22:26 #1081
    Chris Bennett
    Keymaster

    The involvement of SAPPI is mentioned in this post by Richard Moyle:

    https://ukpapermills.org.uk/topic/wolvercote-paper-mill/#post-1077

    20th January 2022 at 14:35 #1443
    JeffP
    Participant

    My father, Wilfred Peacock laboured for Wm Orr who went on to be president of ES & A Robinsons, when he laid out the site for the paper mills

    Dad then went on to work as a hydropulperman  on the top floor of the mill until he retired in 1974

    Very hard work lifting bales of pulp over the top of the mixer and then lifting the “plug ” to allow the mix to fall into the rollers

    I sometimes cycled from Bristol St George to the mill with his lunch or what meal it was during his shift, climbing the stairs to a very hot & humid work area where Dad worked in vest & trousers with persperation pouring down

    He would then cycle back to St George after the shift, 6 -2, 2 – 10 or 10 – 6 a.m.

    21st January 2022 at 11:57 #1445
    Chris Bennett
    Keymaster

    Thanks Jeff

    Your memories are very interesting, showing that even in 1974 some mills were dependent on hard manual labour in situations where a small capital spend would have produced much improved working conditions. I remember much manual handling in several Reed mills in this era although not lifting the pulp over the edge. Broke was a different matter.
    It is significant that these worst of these mills were the first to close.
    In fact, 1974 was the start of the decline in Paper employment; 1974 64,741 employees in 143 mills declined to 1986 31,860 employees in 89 mills.(1)

    Keynsham is a mill with few records we have listed- anything further will be welcome.

    (1) British Paper & Board Reference Tables 1986. Quoted in Papermaking in Britain 1488-1988 Richard L. Hills

     

    26th January 2022 at 15:20 #1446
    JeffP
    Participant

    Please see attached Dads, Wilfred Peacock, trade union badge

    National UNion of Printing, Book binding & papermaking

    Attachments:

    1. DadsTradeUnionBadge2022.jpg

    28th January 2022 at 08:06 #1448
    Chris Bennett
    Keymaster

    Thank you for this. Just the kind of thing it is great to share and record.

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