Paper mill set for £1m Lotto cash

Pulp mixture goes onto the wire at the beginning of the paper machine

An historic mill thought to be the birthplace of the paper "industrial revolution" has been earmarked for almost £1m in Lottery funds.

Frogmore Paper Mill in Apsley near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, is set to undergo a major restoration project.

It is believed to be the site where the first commercial paper-making machine was developed and trialled in 1803.

The project has been earmarked for £999,500 in Heritage Lottery Funding in the first stage of the funding process.

'Inspire visitors'

The mill, which is owned and operated by the Apsley Paper Trail charitable trust, still makes paper using a steam-driven machine from 1890, that is a successor to the original machine.

If the funding process is successful, the money will be used to restore and bring back into use two of the sites' key buildings and provide facilities for an interactive mill tour.

Peter Ingram, chairman of Apsley Paper Trail, said: "This is fantastic news for everyone involved with this unique project over the past 14 years.

"Our aim has always been to provide public access to this amazing paper mill.

"Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, we are now on track to surprise and inspire many more visitors in the future."