THE East Lancashire Paper Mill was established on March 29, 1860, and was operational by 1862.

Part of the 70-acre site was originally a textile printing works belonging to Messr Hutchinson.

To produce paper, three basic main components are required — pulp, water and energy.

In the early years, the mill produced only newsprint and cheaper paper grades. However, by the time it reached the 21st century, it was producing brown packaging grades and high quality book, print and office papers.

The company prided itself on being a leader of coloured papers and boards, and year on year millions of pounds were spent on a modernisation programme.

East Lancs had its own research and development team who worked to ensure that customer requirements were met.

It also counted itself as an environmentally responsible firm, with most of its water coming from the company’s own reservoir at Withins, and its treatment works filtering any effluent — liquid waste or sewage — and recycling it so that nothing was pumped back into the rivers. It also increased production of recycled papers and boards.

In the mid 1990s, the mill employed more than 1,200 people in the town.

But over the years, mechanisation, computerisation and working practices took their toll and on the day of its closure on February 26, 2001, just 235 people remained in employment.