William Balston

William Balston remained at the business with his two new colleagues until August 1805, when he took the bold step of breaking away and setting himself up at Springfield on the banks of the River Medway near Maidstone.

True to Whatman’s founding tradition, William Balston was also an innovator and at the forefront of technological awareness. For example, instead of using the nearby river as a source of power, William chose to use steam. The renowned engineer Sir James Watt supervised the installation of a steam engine - believed to be the first steam engine ever to be used as the main source of power for a paper mill. The engine's original beam is still on display at Springfield Mill today. In addition, inspired by his great interest in chemistry, William even built a small laboratory at Springfield Mill, which was a radical step for this period.

In the first half of the 19th century, the business continued to grow. William installed 10 vats at Springfield, a huge number for one mill, and despite a difficult economic climate, built up a workforce of more than 100 people by 1835.

William Balston II

In 1806, William Balston married Catherine Vallance, the daughter of a Hertfordshire paper maker. The couple had ten children, and the two eldest sons, William and Richard, expanded the business even further. By 1861, W&R Balston, as the firm was now known, were employing almost 250 men, women and boys. Then disaster struck.

On November 29th, 1862 fire broke out at Springfield Mill. The blaze tore through the mill, destroying most of the buildings, although the steam engine was saved.

It says much for the Balston brothers' determined spirit that the mill was reopened in just three months, and it is a particular tribute to the gentlemanly business attitude of the day that not one rival paper maker stepped in to capitalize on the Balstons' misfortune by stealing their customers.

By 1899, Richard James Balston was running the business. There were 18 vats at Springfield, and four more at nearby Medway Mill, acquired, it is said, because the new proprietor didn't like the smoke blowing across his garden at Springfield!