English Parchment Plant Closes

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 3

English Parchment Plant Closes

HAVANT. —The days when paper was unknown, and when documents which had to be preserved were inscribed on parchment, are recalled by the closing of one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of the few remaining parchment factories in England. Ancient records tell of a parchment factory on this site for 1000 years or so. A spring of hard water wells up here through hundreds of feet of chalk, and finally gravel, which is most suitable for this industry. Water plays a big part in the making of parchment, and with only two exceptions, the methods and tools used have never changed throughout the centuries. A modern machine driven by steam for splitting the sheepskins was introduced, and a modern chemical formula for removing stains. By the old method the outer skin was scraped away and was wasted, whereas the introduction of the splitting machine saved this for use in book-binding and for use as light leather, the inner only being used for parchment.

At present the greatest demand for parchment comes from the United States for use for University diplomas and certificates, but there is not sufficient demand to keep the factory working full time, hence the closing down.