Friar Bond Australia

Wiggins Teape Although starting as a stationer and printer in 1852 Wiggins Teape developed into one of Britains biggest paper manufacturers. In 1880 they took over the Downton mill in Wiltshire, although they sold this soon after. In 1889 they bought the Withnell Fold mill in Chorley, Lancashire, and in 1890 the Buckland mill, that produced Conqueror paper, was bought. In 1919 Wiggins Teape was listed as a public company, and in the same year took over Portals Ltd which manufactured banknote paper at Laverstoke and Overton mills. In 1920 Wiggins Teape acquired Devon Valley mill, and in 1922 Wiggins Teape and Alexander Pirie and Sons merged to form Wiggins Teape and Alexander Pirie Ltd, bringing the Stoneywood and Waterton mills. At about this time Wiggins Teape took over the Glory mill in Buckinghamshire and built the Wodurn Green mill, also in Buckinghamshire. In 1932 Portals was sold and in 1937 the Hylton mill was bought. In 1961 the firm owns 11 papermills and employs 10,700 people. In 1970 Wiggins Teape is taken over by BAT Industries, and in 1990 it was merged with Appleton Papers to form the new company of Wiggins Teape Appleton that was then merged with the French company Arjomari-Prious to form Arjo Wiggins Appleton in 2000. The firm continued to expand, in 1977 buying Turkey mill in Kent, and in 1985 buying Spicer-Cowan Ltd. In 1987 Chartham, Devon Valley and Glory mill are demerged and form a separate company. The Shaolhaven mill in New South Wales, Australia, was built by Wiggins Teape and started in 1956 produced version of Wiggins Teape papers until 1970 when it was merged with APPM.