[2][3][4][5] Watchet, then a relatively isolated farming community with a major port on the Bristol Channel since Roman times, had a population with a need for income over the winter months.

With access to ample supplies of wood in the Quantock Hills, the earliest records of paper making in the community date back to 1652.

[2] In the 15th century, a flour mill had been established in the town near the mouth of the Washford River, by the Fulford and Hadley families.

[1] As the installed Lancashire boilers had initial draughting problems being located in a shelter valley, in 1865 a square-shaped chimney was built of local red bricks from Wellington Brickworks.

A devout Methodist, Wansbrough built a chapel within the factory grounds and insisted that his employee's worship there at least weekly.

In 1910 the factory purchased its own Clyde puffer steamboat SS Rushlight, which transported coal from the South Wales Coalfield to power the company's static steam engines, and on the return journey distributed paper products.

[2] The port also allowed for importation of additional supplies of wood fibre, plus esparto grass from Spain and rags from France for pulping,[10] as well as international product distribution.

[2][4] With an annual capacity of 180,000 tonnes of product and employing 174 people, the mill was the UK's largest manufacturer of coreboard, whilst also producing testliner, recycled envelope, bag and kraft papers.