Frogmore Paper Mill

Name: Frogmore Paper Mill
Address: Frogmore Paper Mill and Visitor Centre, Fourdrinier Way, Hemel Hempstead, HP39RY, GB
Telephone: +441442234600
Price range: $$

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Frogmore Paper Mill

Visitor Centre. Open Wednesday and Thursday for pre-booked Hard Hat tours. Tickets available via our website.

Frogmore - the world's oldest mechanised paper mill, birthplace Frogmore Paper Mill is the world's oldest mechanised paper mill - the birthplace of paper's Industrial Revolution. It is still a working paper mill and home to two 'fourdrinier' paper machines, both of which are well over 100 years old. The mill is now managed and operated by the Apsley Paper Trail charity, with the aim of keeping it open to the public for visits, learning and community use.

28/05/2026

One of Apsley’s landmarks, serving as a welcome for anyone arriving by train, is the Basildon Bond clock that sits on the Apsley Mills cottage. Rather than giving the time by numbers, the hands point at the twelve letters of Basildon Bond – one of John Dickinson & Co’s most famous stationery brands.

The clock was first erected in 1966 above the entrance to Apsley Mills, replacing a previous grand clock at the entrance which had been in place since 1897. The clock was first built and installed by Thwaites & Reed of London, the oldest surviving clockmaking company in the world.

Though currently the clock has stopped, the issue is being investigated and we hope to have it running again soon.

26/05/2026

JUST AVAILABLE- four spaces have just become available due to cancellation on the 2.45 Storyboat tomorrow (27th May), so if you want them, head to https://frogmorepapermill.org.uk/events-tickets/ or the ticket button on our home page.

40 minutes of boat ride, stories and wildlife spotting aimed at children aged 4 to 8 years. All children must be accompanied, all passengers must have a ticket. Boats depart from the wharf at Frogmore Paper Mill. Fourdrinier Way, HP3 9RY. Parking is in Durrants Hill Road pay and display car park.

# ds

23/05/2026

Coming up soon!

22/05/2026

At this time on Friday 5th June, we will have the extremely knowledgeable Roger Yapp delivering 'Poles Apart : Hemel Wartime Polish Codebreakers with a Dickinson link', the next presentation in our Talks Programme. This is also one of the rare occasions you can see inside the Tudor Room, once the John Dickinson Company boardroom.

Our speaker, Roger Yapp is a local Hertfordshire historian and is Chairman of the Abbots Langley Local History Society.

This is how he describes the talk, “Poles Apart” is the almost unknown story of three country houses where Polish wireless operatives, technicians and code breakers played a significant part in the effort to ultimately win WW2. The story traces the journey of the main characters from Poland, through Kazakstan, to Persia, Egypt, Scotland and eventually to villages near Hemel Hempstead, where they secretly worked to monitor enemy communications.

Largely based upon the archives of Franek Rymaszewski, a young Polish radio operator the story uncovers Hemel Hempstead’s association with the cracking of the German Enigma codes, and dispels many local myths about what happened at three Hertfordshire country houses in WW2."

In this version of the talk, Roger reveals more of the John Dickinson link to Barnes Lodge.

Talks are informal and questions welcomed. Included is mug of tea or coffee and a fish and chip supper in the interval. All for £18.

Talks are held in The Tudor Room, Apsley Mills Cottage, Stationers Place, HP3 9RL - just opposite Apsley Station. There is ample parking itn the shared car park. Just give your car registration number to staff on arrival. If you have not been before, when standing with your back to the car park and facing The Cottage (white building) and head for the door is on the right hand side.

Please be aware that there is one flight of stairs to the Tudor Room and no lift.

All tickets are sold via our website www.frogmorepapermill.org.uk Book here: https://frogmorepapermill.org.uk/events/poles-apart-hemel-wartime-polish-codebreakers-with-a-dickinson-link/ or

21/05/2026

Before the beginning of the Uniform Penny Post, there were several tactics letter-writers would employ to use less paper. The cost of postage, after all, depended on how many sheets of paper were used and the distance it was being sent.

A common way of saving paper was to use cross-writing, where paper would be rotated ninety degrees and then written on again in the other direction. Another option was to write in a miniscule size to cram as much in as possible. To modern eyes, both options are difficult to decipher.

In 1840 the Uniform Penny Post was introduced, meaning letters up to half an ounce cost one penny to post, or two pence if the fee was paid on delivery. It also led to the introduction of adhesive postal stamps, such as the Penny Black, and prepaid envelopes such as the Mulready that used John Dickinson’s silk-threaded paper.

20/05/2026

Our bookbinding course continues into June. If you have ever thought of trying bookbinding, this is the place to come. Doug Mitchell our tutor is one of the best and calm and patient with learners. He takes learners through a mix of bookbinding techniques, typically lasting a single a session or two sessions depending on the technique. Almost all materials are included, we just ask you to bring along a small kit of apron, pencil, ruler and a craft knife if you have them.

Beginners will undertake a starter project of a hardcase book to give you basic skills. We welcome beginners and those with some experience.

Sessions are held in our temporary cafe between 10am and 4pm. There is ample parking ina Durrants Hill Road pay and display car park, from where you just have to cross the road to our gate.

Sessions are £45 which includes all the papers, boards, threads and more to complete your task.

Upcoming sessions: 2nd and 9th June.
Book here: https://frogmorepapermill.org.uk/events/bookbinding/

17/05/2026

Events for June at Frogmore Paper Mill, Fourdrinier Way,, Apsley, HP3 9RY but please park in Durrants Hill Road car park! More than a paper mill.

Come and join us! Well behaved dogs welcome.

16/05/2026

Home Park Cottages, Kings Langley. The twelve cottages were built by John Dickinsons in 1826 for employees at Home Park Mill. They were rendered in 1948 and therefore the Flint & Brick is no longer visible. (AI colourised)

15/05/2026

Coming up soon!

14/05/2026

Whitsun Storyboat tickets are on sale now. They are going fast but there are still tickets available, particularly for the 2.45pms. Two days (27th and 29th May), 3 sailings each day (11am. 1.30pm nd 2.45pm).

Storyboats are a gentle 40 minute trip down the river Gade to the Grand Union Canal, aimed at children ages 4-8 years old. A story reader will read a variety of picture book stories and help the children to wildlife spot. We feed what wild birds we can with proprietary water bird food and hopefully we will see some chicks.

All leave from our wharf at Frogmore Paper Mill, accessed via the gate in Fourdrinier Way. If travelling by car please use the pay and display car park in Durrants Hill Road. Al you then need to do is cross the road, turn to your right a nd take the first left. This is Fourdrinier Way and you only need to walk about 200 meters and you will see a gap on the left and our large gates.

Tickets are £6. All children must be accompanied, all passengers must purchase a ticket. We provide a ix of beanbags and chairs to sit on. Please be aware there are three small steps for getting into and out of the boat. Staff are always on hand and a will deliver health and safety instruction before departure. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01442 234600 or email [email protected]

Address

Frogmore Paper Mill And Visitor Centre, Fourdrinier Way
Hemel Hempstead
HP39RY

Telephone

+441442234600

Website

https://www.frogmorepapermill.org.uk/

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