John Dickinson (inventor)

==Paper mills==

==Paper mills==

Attempts had already been made to build a machine capable of the continuous manufacture of paper to replace the handmade techniques then used, notably by the Frenchman [[Fourdrinier machine|Henry Fourdriner]].<ref>Joan Evans (great nice of John Dickinson): „The Endless Web – John Dickinson & Co. Ltd 1804-1954″, p.7-8, Jonathan Cape, London 1955</ref> Dickinson patented his own design in 1809. In the same year <ref he gained the financial backing from [[George Longman (MP)|George Longman]], whose family controlled the [[Longman]] publishing firm, and formed a new company, Longman & Dickinson. Money was borrowed from the printer and MP [[Andrew Strahan]] (1749–1831).Joan Evans (great nice of John Dickinson): „The Endless Web – John Dickinson & Co. Ltd 1804-1954″, p.12-14, Jonathan Cape, London 1955>

Attempts had already been made to build a machine capable of the continuous manufacture of paper to replace the handmade techniques then used, notably by the Frenchman [[Fourdrinier machine|Henry Fourdriner]].<ref>Joan Evans (great nice of John Dickinson): „The Endless Web – John Dickinson & Co. Ltd 1804-1954″, p.7-8, Jonathan Cape, London 1955</ref> Dickinson patented his own design in 1809. In the same year he gained the financial backing from [[George Longman (MP)|George Longman]], whose family controlled the [[Longman]] publishing firm, and formed a new company, Longman & Dickinson. Money was borrowed from the printer and MP [[Andrew Strahan]] (1749–1831).<ref>Joan Evans (great nice of John Dickinson): „The Endless Web – John Dickinson & Co. Ltd 1804-1954″, p.12-14, Jonathan Cape, London 1955</ref>

Dickinson was then able to purchase a former flour mill at [[Apsley, Hertfordshire|Apsley]] ([[Hertfordshire]]) which had already been converted to manufacture paper by the previous owner. John Stafford, the seller, had been one of Dickinson’s suppliers. Dickinson installed his own machinery at the mill. In 1811 he bought a second paper mill in nearby [[Nash Mill]] (formerly a mediaeval corn-mill). Between 1828 and 1830 he built a third one in [[Croxley Green|Croxley]]. The canal at Apsley, Nash Mills and Croxley provided power for the mills and transport for materials and product.<ref name=ashmolean>{{cite web|title=John Dickinson & Co Ltd|url=http://johnevans.ashmolean.org/evans/dickinsons.html|website=Sir John Evans Centenary Project|publisher=[[Ashmolean Museum]]|accessdate=22 January 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120164524/http://johnevans.ashmolean.org/evans/dickinsons.html|archivedate=20 November 2009|date=2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dickinson was then able to purchase a former flour mill at [[Apsley, Hertfordshire|Apsley]] ([[Hertfordshire]]) which had already been converted to manufacture paper by the previous owner. John Stafford, the seller, had been one of Dickinson’s suppliers. Dickinson installed his own machinery at the mill. In 1811 he bought a second paper mill in nearby [[Nash Mill]] (formerly a mediaeval corn-mill). Between 1828 and 1830 he built a third one in [[Croxley Green|Croxley]]. The canal at Apsley, Nash Mills and Croxley provided power for the mills and transport for materials and product.<ref name=ashmolean>{{cite web|title=John Dickinson & Co Ltd|url=http://johnevans.ashmolean.org/evans/dickinsons.html|website=Sir John Evans Centenary Project|publisher=[[Ashmolean Museum]]|accessdate=22 January 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120164524/http://johnevans.ashmolean.org/evans/dickinsons.html|archivedate=20 November 2009|date=2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

When Dickinson built himself a new house on the east of Nash Mills in 1836 he was his own architect. He called it [[Abbot’s Hill School#Abbot’s Hill House|Abbots Hill]]. It was located on a hillside site looking down upon his mills in the valley bottom.<ref>Joan Evans (great nice of John Dickinson): „The Endless Web – John Dickinson & Co. Ltd 1804-1954″, p.58, Jonathan Cape, London 1955</ref>

When Dickinson built himself a new house on the east of Nash Mills in 1836 he was his own architect. He called it [[Abbot’s Hill School#Abbot’s Hill House|Abbots Hill]]. It was located on a hillside site looking down upon his mills in the valley bottom.<ref>Joan Evans (great nice of John Dickinson): „The Endless Web – John Dickinson & Co. Ltd 1804-1954″, p.58, Jonathan Cape, London 1955</ref>

In 1858, Dickinson passed on his thriving business to his nephew [[John Evans (archaeologist)|John Evans]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Matlach|first=Mark|title=John Dickinson Ltd|url=http://cosgb.blogspot.com/2011/11/john-dickinson-co-ltd.html|publisher=COSGB|accessdate=8 October 2012}}</ref> Over the years, the company has merged with several other stationery manufacturers. The most recent was with Hamelin Brands in 2008<ref>{{cite web|last=Matlach|first=Mark|title=John Dickinson & Co. Ltd|url=http://cosgb.blogspot.com/2011/11/john-dickinson-co-ltd.html|publisher=COSGB|accessdate=8 October 2012}}</ref> From small beginnings, his company went on to become [[John Dickinson Stationery]], one of the largest stationery manufacturers in the world.<ref>[https://www.croxleygreenhistory.co.uk/john-dickinson.html Article ″John Dickinson’s Mill″ on www.croxleygreenhistory.co.uk]</ref>

In 1858, Dickinson passed on his thriving business to his nephew [[John Evans (archaeologist)|John Evans]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Matlach|first=Mark|title=John Dickinson & Co. Ltd|url=http://cosgb.blogspot.com/2011/11/john-dickinson-co-ltd.html|publisher=COSGB|accessdate=8 October 2012}}</ref> Over the years, the company has merged with several other stationery manufacturers. The most recent was with Hamelin Brands in 2008<ref>{{cite web|last=Matlach|first=Mark|title=John Dickinson & Co. Ltd|url=http://cosgb.blogspot.com/2011/11/john-dickinson-co-ltd.html|publisher=COSGB|accessdate=8 October 2012}}</ref> From small beginnings, his company went on to become [[John Dickinson Stationery]], one of the largest stationery manufacturers in the world.<ref>[https://www.croxleygreenhistory.co.uk/john-dickinson.html Article ″John Dickinson’s Mill″ on www.croxleygreenhistory.co.uk]</ref>

== Dickinson paper making process ==

== Dickinson paper making process ==