Inside Preston's oldest working paper mill printing bespoke tissues for top luxury stores
Take a look inside Preston’s oldest paper mill, Roach Bridge, where they print bespoke tissues for luxury brands and top UK stores.
Go inside one of Preston’s oldest working mills, which has been used as a paper factory since 1875. Roach Bridge Tissues specialise in bespoke printed tissue paper, and supply to high-end stores so they can be used as a ‘little bit of luxury’ in packaging.
Last mill on the River Darwen
Camilla and Charles Hadcock set up Roach Bridge Tissues in 1999 - but it had previously been owned and operated as a traditional working paper mill.
Camilla explains: “Roach Bridge Paper Mill was owned and run by my grandfather until he died in 1979 and then for 20 odd years it went out of family ownership and when the paper mill went into liquidation in 1999, we bought one of the printing machines and one of the sheeting machines and we started a company.”
The Samlesbury business is the last mill on the River Darwen.
‘Slow and steady’ printing process
And while other types of manufacturing have been digitalised, this is not possible for this family-run business. Camilla describes the machinery as ‘dinosaurs’ and ‘old workhorses’, in the video above.
During a tour of the paper mill, Camilla says: “You can't really print tissue paper digitally. It just doesn't work. It's too fine. It just rips. It's a very slow and steady process printing tissue paper.”
They make packaging that is fully recyclable and biodegradable, using environmentally friendly water-based inks.
A bit of luxury
Camilla adds: “In the old days, everything was wrapped in tissue paper. There was always a layer between everything. But I think now it is just, it just gives a little bit of an extra luxury, just gives that sort of special feel to it when, when things come wrapped in it.”
Watch the video tour above.