BRITISH papermaker James Cropper has released The Last Mill Standing, a new documentary offering a look inside its Burneside Mill in the Lake District, as the 180-year-old manufacturer embarks on a new chapter.
The film takes viewers from candid boardroom conversations to the unpredictable realities of the factory floor. James Cropper explained that machinery breakdowns, production pressures and difficult commercial decisions unfold alongside the ‘humour, camaraderie and extraordinary expertise’ that have defined the business for generations.
Paul Barber, MD of paper and packaging at James Cropper, said, “We were the inventors of coloured paper going back 180 years ago, and we are the pioneers of colour in today’s market. Manufacturing matters, and we’re one of the last remaining mills of our kind in the UK. I’m here for the long term. We’re going to develop this business and drive it forward. Watch out, because James Cropper’s coming back.”
The documentary captures that determination in action, including the development of Coloursource, a new paper offering brought to market in just six weeks following the unexpected loss of a major customer.
Viewers also discover the complexity behind a material most people take for granted. From the chemistry of colour matching and the precision of specialist papermaking to the engineering required to maintain machinery, the film reveals the expertise behind papers used in luxury packaging, design and creative applications around the world.
For sixth-generation chairman Mark Cropper, whose family has been associated with the mill since 1845, the fascination with papermaking remains as strong as ever.
“The bit that I love the most is just the magic of its making,” he added. “The fact that you can take fibres suspended in water and, through this natural process, create a sheet of paper is extraordinary. We’ve been doing this for a very long time, and we’ve taken it to the cutting edge of what you can actually do with fibres. We’ve got world-class materials, world-class products and world-class customers.”
The documentary also examines the close relationship between James Cropper and the village of Burneside, where generations of families have worked at the mill. In one scene, viewers discover the village’s historic ‘triangle of life’, formed by the church, school and mill, revealing just how deeply the business is woven into the community.
