Remembering the East Lancashire Paper Mill

The mill was once the town's largest employer with a workforce of more than 1,200 people at its height, and has been described as "one of the rocks that Radcliffe was built on."

Founded in March 1860, East Lancashire Paper Mill Company Ltd was part-owned by the Seddon family who continued to run the site for nearly 100 years.

This culture of 'family' became integral to the mill. By the time it wound down to closure in 2001, the Jenkins family had notched up more than 350 years service over the decades.

David Kerwin, chairman of Radcliffe Heritage Society, said: "East Lancs has been part of my whole life. My dad rented a house in Church Street East that was owned by the mill for 85 or so years with a peppercorn rent — a privilege given to several employees over the years.

"Like my parents, it was my destiny to work in the mill when I left school.

"Growing up, if my dad was working over the weekend I used to take his dinner down to the mill gates wrapped up in a kitchen towel to keep it warm.

"One funny thing always sticks in my mind. I remember when the mill put a big order in for paper, and overtime was called. Some departments would go on 12-hour shifts. Overtime pay was fantastic in those days so some workers would buy a new car and they would drive to work with a big smile all over the faces. Then when the order was complete, and overtime stopped, they would be back on the push bike to save money."

Former operations director Terry Coffey is familiar with the latter years of the site's history.

He joined the mill in October 1990, when it was made the subject of a management buyout (MBO), serving until April 1997.

He recollects: "My seven years at ELPM were very memorable, and I had the pleasure of meeting so many fantastic people, many of whom remain firm friends to this day.

"Together, we were to go through some difficult times, because my arrival in 1990 as part of a Management “Buy In” was at a time of great difficulty for the mill, against a background of a poor performing economy, interest rates of the order of 14 per cent, and the mill making substantial losses.

"The new management team, under the leadership of chairman Don Macgregor produced a plan for survival and growth, which, although it meant some unavoidable job losses at the start, soon began to put the mill on the road to recovery."

The mill had a 25 Club, made up of members who had worked for the company for at least 25 years.

By the 1980s, 125 people had qualified with some of these individuals going on to complete between 40 and 50 years service.

At its peak, the mill had its own surgery with two full-time nurses and a part-time doctor on call, as well as a fully staffed canteen.

The family culture also spread to the mill's sports and social sectors. Tennis, crown green bowling, cricket, fishing, football, rounders and hockey were played by employees.

By mid-1994, ELPM had turned losses of £4 million a year into profits in excess of £1 million, and the management team were able to acquire full control of the mill, by buying out the remaining interests of the previous owners.

Mr Coffey said: "By this time, the mill was settled into a new style of operation, with less emphasis on high volume (but low profitability) white copier paper, and much more emphasis on packaging materials which depended on the use of recycled paper.

"Such paper was, at that time, in great demand as the base material for the 'corrugated' element of cardboard box manufacture."

He added: "We were all proud of what we had collectively achieved over those past few years, and the mill held an open day for all employees and their families on Sunday, October 22, 1995."

The open day followed a fundraising dinner at the Longfield Suite in Prestwich. These activities were held during British Paper Week, and aimed at highlighting the community role of ELPM, with all funds raised going to the Rotary Club of Radcliffe to be allocated within the local community.

Mr Coffey said: "In 1997 it was decided that a new team should take the mill forward, and this is when I left ELPM.

"Sadly, for one reason or another, things didn’t work out for the new team, and the mill had to close, ending nearly 140 years of paper making history in Radcliffe.

"At least the name of the East Lancashire Paper Mill lives on in Festival Gardens, dedicated quite rightly, to the people of Radcliffe."

During a special gathering in July, the gates and pillars which previously formed the entrance to the mill off Rectory Lane, were reopened in Festival Gardens, preserving the mill's history for generations to come.