Horton Kirby Paper Mill was established in a former flour mill in c. 1825 - 1830. By 1857 nearly 300 people wer employed at the mill which produced 1000 tons of paper each year. The mill's fortunes fluctuated, the owners facing liquidation in 1872. The mill reached its peak in the 1950s but declined in the 1970s and 1980s. It closed in 2003.

Prior to the construction of the paper mill, a flour mill had stood at the site since the early 18th century. The flour mill was owned by the Pope family who sold it to William Knight before 1740. Some time before 1832 it was likely transferred to John Hall, a pioneer of the papermaking machine who converted it to paper making. The mill was probably water powered until 1880.

The major developments at the site were thus:

1832 the mill was transferred to John Hall who converted it to paper-making in c. 1825 to 1830

1857 Edward Creasy recorded that nearly 300 people were employed at the mill that was prdocung 1000 tons of paper each year. He recorded that a steam engine was used and a tall chimney had been built.

1870s the mill was taken over first by Spalding and Cudlip and then by Spalding and Hodge. New mill buildings were built culminating in the italianate chinmney in 1883.

1883 the Paper Record (an industry paper?) recorded that the mill was "probably the most completely fitted up mills in the South of England", there being three large paper-making machiness at the site.

1902-1909 the mill was by now supplying paper to publications such as the Sphere, Tatler, Bystander and the Illustrated London News.

1950s The peak period for the mills with 80 tons of finsihed paper being made per week as well as 150 tons by the main paper mill. 450 people were employed.

1972 mill sold to William Nash. No 1 machine closed and no 3 machine dismantled.

2003 mill closed and in2005 was converted into housing

The historic building survey, carried out in 2006 and 2007, identified 56 different buildings and established their function and construction materials. More detail and maps are available in the historic buildings survey. (1)

Site includes a listed building - a chimney dating to 1881 (see mke32104)

<1> CgMs Consulting, 2008, Historic Buildings Record Report The Former Horton Kirby Paper Mills, South Darenth, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE13640.

<2> The Halpern P{artnership Ltd, 2005, Environmental Statement for the site at Horton Kirby Paper Mill, South Darenth: Technical Appendix 3.2 (Unpublished document). SKE51926.