Esk Mills

In 1805 the two cotton mills at Esk Mills were purchased by two distillers, James Haig and John Philp. Their brother-in-law, John White spent nearly £4,000 converting one of the cotton mills into a hand made paper mill with two vats. However, six years later the paper mill closed and Esk Mills was leased to the Transport and Barracks Board. It became a French Prisoner of War camp, but, following escapes, it became a barracks for the guards of French prisoners at Valleyfield.

James Brown took control of Esk Mills in 1820 and gave his name to the company. Under his able leadership papermaking flourished. By 1825 there were 4 vats, but the future lay in machines, paper machines. In 1832 Esk Mills had 2 machines making printing and writing paper with a warehouse in Edinburgh. In 1826 James Brown patented a method for bleaching paper. 10 years later he patented suction boxes for paper machines. On his death in 1852, the business passed to his son-in-law Thomas McDougal. The mill grew and prospered. Steam engines supplemented water power.

Demand for paper was boosted in 1861 when excise duty was removed. Esparto grass from Spain and North Africa now supplemented rags.

Transport costs were reduced considerably when in 1872 the railway brought in coal, esparto grass and wood pulp and carried paper to the UK and international market. In this year John Jardine joined the company. His engineering abilities helped modernise and expand the mill. Waterpower gave way to steam.

The manufacturing of coated papers started in 1896, bringing in new markets. In 1904 John Jardine’s son, William, founded the London Office.

The mill continued to expand its markets at home and overseas. Investment continued with new and refurbished machines and in the skilled workforce.