Most of the sprawling Dickinson's site has been taken up by new housing developments. But a corner of the plot has been saved for a national Paper Museum, to celebrate the links between the industry and the town.

The Paper Trail is the brainchild of Peter Ingram, who has been involved in the paper and printing trades throughout his working life.

With the help of Dacorum Borough Council, he's secured two separate sites for what he hopes will become a national visitor attraction.

Entrance

Frogmore Mill

Visitors will enter the Paper Trail at the gates of the former mill opposite Apsley Station.

They'll take a narrow-boat ride along the Grand Union Canal and the River Gade to Frogmore Mill, where they can see a working paper machine, producing recycled board and paper.

Returning, by boat, visitors will be able to enjoy handmade papermaking and paper sculpture at a state of the art building on the old Apsley Mill site.

Hundreds of paper related artefacts have been accummulated by the Paper Trail and these will be displayed here too.

Napkins
Dozens of examples were left behind when the company moved on, and many more have been donated by former employees and other local residents.

They include one of the first ever paper napkins produced in Europe.

A Dickinsons fire engine dating from the Second World War has also survived along with a set of uniforms for its firemen.

The Mill manager's cottage

John Dickinson helped to bring mechanised paper making to Hemel Hempstead as far back as 1809 and built his pioneering business into a key part of the local economy.

Although he retired from the trade in 1859 and died ten years later, his company went from strength to strength.

At its peak, around the time of the Second World war, John Dickinson's employed more than 7000 workers.

The Paper Trail aims to celebrate this connection to the local community, as well as looking to the future for the paper trade.

Chief executive Jacky Bennett says: "We hope local people will get involved with something that we hope will be a local, national and international attraction."

Carol Morgan, Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin USA	Thursday, 12-Aug-2004 11:11:13 BST
Greetings: I am a handmade paper artist visiting England from the US. I was very excited to hear about your project and want to know more about it, if I can do anything to assist you or if I can submitt slides of my artwork for display in your gallery space. I have studied hand papermaking with Timothy Barrett, University of Iowa. I use both Asian and Western fibers, sheet formation methods in the traditional manner. I use external sizing and then apply surface designs formed from walnut dye, inks, fabric dyes, watercolor or acrylics that I make. I am dedicated to the study of papermaking and want to help in preserving the traditions and craft. My advanced degree is a Ph.D. in counseling and organizational development from the University of WI, USA and have consulted with many businesses. As a papermaker, I am primarily self taught regarding sculptural and surface des! ign applications. I am also able to travel and committ time to a project. Please let me know more about your project and if I could submitt slides of my work. Good luck and best wishes for your success. Carol Morgan

kim Lee, Birmingham	Thursday, 05-Aug-2004 15:58:14 BST
I am an artist working with paper, initially used this material to celebrate my cultural heritage of the Chinese being the first inventor of paper making.I have made attractive sculptures out of paper products from found books,and using the cocept of chinese craft, has collected a small portfolo of the art works based in the theme of 'organic forms'.I seek for a chance to show my works in appropriate place like paper mill.Your response is much appriactiated.God bless. thank you.