In Provence, the first mill was built in 1374 in Carpentras. During the next centuries, Fontaine de Vaucluse became the most important paper production place, partly because of the popes in Avignon. In the 18th century, there were 11 factories in the Vaucluse, four of them located in Fontaine de Vaucluse.
The Real's mill The mill itself was built on the "Real" river because of the slope and the regular flow which provided the energy needed to make the 7 metres in diameter paddle wheel turn. The camshaft drove mallets, which were enormous fir-tree hammers, which beat the cloths made of hemp, cotton or linen contained in the "pile" for 24 to 36 hours.
The wood pulp
The produced wood pulp went through the "pile" for 3 to 4 hours.
The "pile" was a big iron egg-shaped basin in which turned a bladed
cylinder to tear cloths to shreds.
The sheet manufacturing
The wood pulp was diluted in water. then sowe pulp was taken out of the
water to make sheets, which were pressed to drain the water off and keep
all the fibres together.
The sheet's drying process
The sheets were hung on ropes in the upper part of the paper mill which
was the most ventilated place. The duration of the drying process
depended on the weather and the number of windows.
The Tan mill
Oak barks were ground to get tannin powder which was used to make skins
rot-proof and water proof and to keep them supple. The tannin produced
in peyrolles was transported to Barjoles' tanneries.
