Frogmore Paper Mill Claimed

Creating a sustainable future for the world's oldest mechanised paper mill ....the birthplace of paper's industrial revolution.

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Attraction recommended to us.

About

In 1803, Frogmore Paper Mill was the place selected by Henry and Sealy Fourdrinier for the trials of their newly patented paper machine. Thus began the paper’s industrial revolution leading to the cheap, plentiful paper products that we all use every day of our lives.

Managed by the Apsley Paper Trail Trust as a heritage and Education Centre to preserve the fascinating history of a local industry which influenced the world, a story of inventions and innovation, family connections and Victorian ingenuity.

Paper must be our most overlooked commodity, but one with a 2,000+ year history, with mechanisation only since 1803 and of great versatility. Paper is everywhere in our lives from our most basic needs to luxurious applications. It packages, it insulates, it protects and it communicates ideas.

We welcome individuals and families to our drop-in visitor days and pre-booked groups Monday to Friday.

Visitors can explore the museum, take a guided tour, try the café, visit the shop or take a gentle boat trip on the Bryan Donkin. The tour enables visitors to observe the working mill, see heritage paper machines and see ‘Fourdrinier No.4’ in action, making papers that we sell to commercial clients. We have working displays for letterpress and bookbinding, plus our 1938 Dennis fire engine. There really is something for everyone.

We have secure onsite gated parking to the rear of the mill. In the instance of really large groups, we have a pay and display car park just opposite. See our pictures for reference.

For more details, please see our website.

Please Note:

Opening times shown are for the cafe and ‘drop-in’ visitors. The mill opens also on 1st Sunday of each month.
Group parking is secure inside the Mill gates. If travelling solo, please contact the mill beforehand to arrange secure parking.

FAQs

Q Is parking available?

We have a large site with roads on three sides. To the rear of our site, on Frogmore Road, we have our coach park which we would happily make available to groups visiting with classic and vintage cars. We can also accommodated such vehicles via our side entrance on Durrant's Hill Road. Both spaces can be seen amongst our photographs. In addition we have our standard recommended parking, in the Durrant's Hill Road pay and display carpark, just across the road. The site has cctv in operation which covers most areas.

Q Is booking essential?

We request that groups of more than 10, book in advance. This enables us to support your visit and ensure sufficient tour guides are available.
We are happy to take provisional bookings which will be secured by payment of a deposit. Final details and group numbers need to confirmed 2 weeks prior to arrival.
We are also open for individual and family group, drop-in visits, on Thursdays and the 1st Sunday of each month, when tours take place at 11.15, 13.00 and 14,45 only.
All tours must be with a tour guide due to the working nature of the mill.

Q Can you provided catering for large groups?

Yes we can! We greet pre-booked groups with tea and coffee on arrival. Our café offers hot and cold drinks - often artisan beer from our onsite tenants, Pope's Yard Brewery - biscuits and snacks. We do not sell sandwiches.
However, we can provide a fish and chip lunch, or deli alternative by means of outside caterers. Alternatively we can provide a cream tea for afternoon arrivals. Ask and we will try to deliver!

Q What else can we do apart from tour the mill?

Printing and paper are inextricably interlinked. We have displays of printing and bookbinding on the site. We run workshops in both. We can offer a letterpress printing presentation to groups who would like this to be included.
In addition we have our Bryan Donkin boat, which can take 12 passengers, plus crew. This is an extra charge but adds a leisurely boat ride to your visit.

Q What group sizes can you take?

We can cater for groups of up to 50 visitors at one time. Groups of over 15, will be subdivided after the welcome presentation. This enables us to deliver all activities effectively and safely in the working mill. Groups are often split into 3 or 4 sub-groups,, but everyone gets to do everything.

Q What can we expect of the tour?

.Your tour guide will cover key parts of the paper story, and give you the opportunity to make your own sheet by hand. The guide will provide you with a fact filled tour of the working mill, our heritage paper machines, Fourdrinier No.4 in action, the older Fourdrinier No.2 and newly installed Cylinder Mould Machine. But there is so much here that you are advised to build in time to explore the exhibits in the museum . There really are so many sides to Frogmore Paper Mill. Or plan a return visit! Tours take 40-60 minutes.

Q Can we explore the mill independently?

In the Visitor Centre, yes. There, you can explore the shop, café, gallery and museum displays. There is much to see here and our tour guides cannot cover everything.

Q How much time should we allow for our visit?

You need to give your group at least 3 hours. This does vary dependent on size of group and options added.
If you use the pay and display car park, we recommend you pay for at least 4 hours. The car park is cheap. A full day is only £1.70 at present (2021).

Q Can you cater for those with mobility problems?

At Frogmore we try to cater for everyone. We have limited disabled parking which can be reserved if you let us know in advance.
Much of the tour is on the flat and we have ramps and disabled toilets. There is a lift from the ground floor to the pulper floor above. Due to the age of our building, there is no lift down to No.2 paper machine. If we know in advance we can take wheelchair users via a different route to the main group, Just let us know and we will have an extra staff member available to accompany you.