Bere Mill on the banks of the river Test at Whitchurch in Hampshire was built in 1710 as a corn mill but in 1712 the Huguenot Henri de Portal brought the skill of papermaking to Whitchurch and took over the lease of the mill. The clear water of the fast-flowing River Test, with its chalk component, was very suitable for the production of good quality paper, and the business thrived. In 1718 Portal leased Laverstoke Mill, two miles upriver, and built a new paper mill on the site, which became the main mill. In 1724 Henri Portal (as he now called himself) was granted leave to produce paper for the notes issued by the Bank of England and this paper was initially made from Bere Mill. In his article for The Quarterly (July 1993) Peter Bower quotes a member of the Portal family -

"Until 1731 the paper was conveyed by water carriage to London. It was enclosed in elm chests with locks and bound with iron and then was carried in a waggon along 12 miles of road to Newbury, from whence it proceeded by barge down the river Kennet to Reading, and thence by the Thames to London."

In a chapter from Fire Insurance Policy Records (edited by L. Munby) there is mention of Hampshire's famous papermaker, Henry Portal, insuring his house, mill and outhouses in Laverstoke for £300 in 1719; eight years later insuring the same property plus storehouses and raghouses for £1,200; and in 1742 a third policy for £2,000 to include one other little papermill. These are very large sums for the time.

The record of Martha's baptism has not yet been found but she is believed to have been the daughter of Edward Webb. Edward was the son of Philip and Alycia (in some records Alice) Webb. He was christened in Little Shelford in 1701. Philip (also of Little Shelford) and Alice (nee Heardman, of Great Shelford) had been married at Jesus College, Cambridge in January 1698, but Alice and at least two of their children died in the winter of 1714-15, perhaps from smallpox, so Edward was lucky to have survived.

Great Shelford church

Edward married Mary Farthing of Stapleford in 1729 and four of their children (but unfortunately not Martha) were christened at Stapleford. Whether or not he was engaged in paper manufacture is not known, but he was tenant of a cottage and a "shop" (workshop). He was also named as a member of the Court Leet in 1743. On the death of Edward, his will (dated 1762) shows that he had a daughter Martha to whom he left the sum of £60. Edward died in March 1764, two months before Martha's wedding to William Webb.

When Martha's mother, Mary (nee Farthing), died in 1747, her son William inherited the copyhold messuage and pasture which she had inherited from her father William Farthing. As young William was a minor, his father Edward was appointed as custodian until he came of age. It is interesting that Martha's other brother, John, was mentioned in their father's will as being on his Majesty's Service. Later, a son of William and Martha was to enter the navy - (see Chapter 3). Was he following his uncle's example?

Fairchild was apparently also a merchant and farmer, and among the later Webbs we will find examples of several occupations being pursued, and several businesses being run at one time. Fairchild did not make a success of the papermaking enterprise, and was declared bankrupt in 1779, having insured, among other things, two papermills for a sum not exceeding six hundred and seventy five pounds. When Borough Mill was subsequently put up for sale it included:

"Two vatts lined with lead; two engines worked by separate water wheels; two water wheels 16 feet in diameter; eight iron screw presses; two chests lined with lead; a double range of drying lofts; a sizing room; a blueing room fitted with coppers; a rag house with lattices and bins."

After changing hands several times, the mill was run from 1836 by the Towgood family and became one of the largest industrial concerns in the county. The Spicer brothers acquired the mill in 1917 and their business has international acclaim.

Beoley is an ancient village conveniently located on the old Roman road of Icknield (or Rykneild) Street, just over two miles northeast of present-day Redditch. The church of St Leonard, built about 1140, and nearby Mount (which may have been an Iron Age hill fort) are situated half a mile from the main village, which was also known as Holt End, but it is not known when the supposed population shift took place. The small Norman church had north and south aisles added during the 13th century, no doubt to cater for an increase in population, and the famous Sheldon Chapel was constructed in the 16th century.

The Sheldon family were Lords of the Manor from about 1470 until the Civil War in the 17th century, and were renowned for being the first English tapestry makers, specialising in huge tapestry maps to adorn the walls of cold stately homes and palaces. The pictures are of an exhibition of the Sheldon Tapestries at Beoley in 1975.
Click on the images to enlarge them.

Most of the tapestries were manufactured at Barcheston and were often romanticised rather than accurate portrayals (for example, on one tapestry Stratford-on-Avon is shown as a walled town).some of these details are from Ralph Richardson's St Leonard's Church - a brief history and guide" published in 2002.

Redditch is not to be found at all on Kitchen's map of 1764, though it is on Beighton's map of Worcestershire in 1772, Tunnicliffe's map of 1788 and Nash's map of 1789. Speede's map of 1610 marks Beoley, Ipsley, Studley, Tardebigge and Hewell Grange, though the spellings are not as we know them.

In 1776 Joseph Monk, a Primitive Methodist preacher described the hamlet of Redditch, from which local artist Norman Neasom has created a sketch to give an idea of the buildings and their inhabitants at that date. This sketch map can be viewed here, but may take a short time to download.

John Nash, in his 'History of Worcestershire' written around 1781, declares that Redditch was enclosed by Act of Parliament in 1722. He tries to determine the bounds of the parish by consulting the oldest inhabitants he can find. He mentions a gospel oak on Redditch common, Easemore Wood, and the new paper mill which is situated not far from the abbey orchards.

William Avery wrote a lively and detailed account of life in Redditch from about 1800 (partly based on information he had recieved from his father), entitled "Old Redditch ~ Being an early history of the town from 1800 to 1850". A modern version has been edited by Anne Bradford and is published by Hunt End Books, 1999, ISBN 0-9519481 21. He names several notable characters and significant events in the town's history and he was familiar with the story of Joseph Webb, whose career is outlined in Chapter 3.

Letters from John & Matthew Mills at Beoley papermill :

February 10th 1787 - to Thomas Bowles, stationer, Newgate Street, London:
"Respecting the different papers I make are at present nearly the same you was used to get of Mrs Mander which is for the most part Fool's Cap and would be glad to settle a correspondence with you and to sell most of the paper we make if agreeable to you. But I am informed by Webb the price you was used to give for the Fool's Cap was 12/- per ream and they paid the carriage to London which brings it so low a price that we cannot comply with, as we have sold since we have had the mill near 1000 reams of Fool's Cap and have not sold one ream at a lower price than 12/6."

Further comments from similar letters:
"Having a good deal of other business in the paper line in a few hands and from the recommendations of Webb on your dealings and wishing to confirm our business ……."
"We are getting the mills and everything in good order"

May 18th 1787:
"Webb has gone to pack it in the waggon himself therefore I have not the slightest doubt it will arrive safely in good condition"

June 14th 1787:
"We will take particular care that there shall be no complaint in the future as have ordered Webb whenever there is a lot of paper that does not finish well and of good colour which will sometimes happen, never to send to you, as we can dispose of it among our country customers without any inconvenience …….."

September 1787:
"Webb says this was what he never knew you to do by his late employer Mrs Mander……."

Other letters show that they had various customers in Birmingham in 1784 - Messers John Humphreys at Digbeth, Mr Bollman in Bull Street and Mr Shymer in Edmund Street. Perhaps William's son Edward (See Chapter 2), who also became a papermaker, met his future wife in Birmingham while on a business trip? It is certainly a possibility.

Beoley mill and attached farms changed hands in 1826, and it is interesting to note what was offered for sale :

click to enlarge
There were two mills at Beoley, only one of which served as a papermill, and it is not always clear which mill is referred to. Pigot's Directory of 1829 lists John and Matthew Mills as corn millers and papermakers at Beoley Mill.

Another family closely connected with the papermill over several generations were the Parrs, who by 1819 had a growing family. Pigot's Directory of 1841 shows Thomas Parr at Beoley papermill, and he is also mentioned in 1851, manufacturing papers for wrapping needles and fish-hooks. The 1881 census shows Henry Parr at Beoley papermill, with his wife, 7 children and 2 servants. Henry employed 4 men, 4 women and 2 boys. By 1936 the Parr family business was also manufacturing photographic paper. The Parr family were well known to the Webbs over many years and several generations. The author remembers her father and grandfather having rulers advertising the Parr family business in the mid 20th century.

advert in The Needlemakers Almanack 1934

In 1835 Benjamin Sarsons, who figures later in the Webb family saga (see Chapter 9), is listed as a baker, flour dealer and maltster at Beoley Mill, (presumably not the papermill) though his residence was later at Church Green East, where his business was carried out on the corner of Peakman Street in the house later acquired by the Webb family.