Papermaking was invented and developed by Tsai Lun in China. Over 2000 years later, ArjoWiggins opened a new paper mill in China in 2007 to manufacture laminating decor papers.. 264
The date of the earliest paper found with a clearly defined date 793
Papermaking spread across Asia and a papermill was operating in Bagdad, by Haroun-el-Rashid, using chinese papermakers 875
Toilet paper was reported by arab travellers to China | 
900
The chinese developed paper money |
969
Paper playing cards existed. 1035
The use of paper as a wrapping Material Waste paper was reported as being recycled in Japan. 1066
William the Conqureor's norman conquest of England 1151
The ancient Chinese art of papermaking first entered Europe with the arab conquest of Spain by the Moors, and the first european stamping mill at Xativa. Papermaking spread slowly throughout Europe 1189
The first paper mill was built in France at Herault 1260
The first Italian papermill was built at Fabriano, in the marquisate of Ancona. The italians developed the art of watermarking and the use of 'glue' for sizing paper. | 
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| 1309
First reported use of paper in England 1407
Papermaking spread to Belgium by 1407 and to Holland in 1428 1468
First book was printed on paper in England 1469
A paper mill was founded at Papeteries d'Arches in France where ArjoWiggins now make paper for watercolour painting |
1490
The earliest reference to a paper mill in Britain was in the reign of Henry VII of England in a book printed by Caxton referring to a paper milll near Stevenage belonging to John Tate. Paper from John Tate's mill was used to print Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. | |
The Gutenberg Bible was printed by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, in the 15 Century. The paper used in the Gutenberg Bible was imported from Caselle in Piedmont, Northern Italy, and was identified from the watermarks of an ox head and of a bunch of grapes. | 1550
Wallpaper was first introduced to Europe from China The University of Aberdeen, Kings College, was founded in 1495 by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland. Universities were the major customer for paper, and paper mills tended to be subsequently built close to their main local market. It is probable that paper was used at the Universtity in 1495, but it is not known whether the paper was made locally, at Edinburgh or imported. The Burgess of Aberdeen at the time was James Moir whose grandson John, was the 1st Laird of Stoneywood. |
1557
Vidalon Paper mill founded at Annonay, France. Today, the mill remains a manufacturing mill of ArjoWiggins and a museum adjacent to the mill exhibits the history of papermaking and of the first manned flight in a balloon by the Montgolfier brothers, who once owned the mill 1573
The Rives paper mill in France produced watermarked papers which rapidly became the standard in terms of quality. Rives remains a manufacturing mill of ArjoWiggins in 2007 | |
| | 1588
Queen Elizabeth I of England granted a license of monopoly for papermaking to Sir John Spilman (Spielman), a german who owned Dartford Mill. This mill became Britain's first commercially successful papermill and ArjoWiggins continue to manufacture coated papers at the mill. 1590
The first paper mill in Scotland was established in 1590 at Dalry in Edinburgh by Mungo and Gideon Russell., but it only operated until around 1605. 1621
The first titled newspaper called Corante was published in London in 1621 1634
A paper mill founded at Faya in France by the Johannot family, Faya remains a mill of ArjoWiggins in 2007 |
1660
The english reformation and the re-instatement of Charles II 1671
In 1671, the Baronry of Stoneywood was acquired for John Moir of Kermuck from the Frasers of Muchals. He was the eldest son of Mr. William Moir, Burgess of Aberdeen, city treasurer and Laird of the Spital. John Moir became the 1st Laird of Stoneywood, but there were only four generatons because all seven sons of the 4th Laird all died. The Moirs were supporters of the Stuart dynasty and had in their possession the bible of Charles I following his execution. | |
| | 1680
French papermaker Nicolas de Champ opened a mill in Scotland at Cathcart near Glasgow, and is said to be responsible for the growth of papermaking in Scotland in the early 18th century 1685
The persecution of protestants (Huguenots) in France and the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, resulted in the exile of many protestant papermakers to England. This included Henri Portal, whose descendant was the founding chairman of Wiggins Teape (1919) Ltd |
| 1690
Papermaking reached the New World with the first mill in Germanstown, USA. Presumably papermakers had emigrated from Germany 1694
Nicolas Dupin and Denis Manes floated "The Society of the White-Writing and Printing Paper Manufactory of Scotland" at Yester Mill, East Lothian. They asked for a monopoly of paper-making in Scotland in 1694, but this was refused on the grounds that there were already other paper mills. | 
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| French papermakers Nicolas de Champ and Nicolas Dupin who brought the skills of the French papermaking industry to Scotland are said to be responsible for the growth of papermaking in Scotland during the early 18th century more.. |
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