On 9th September 1987, Stowford Paper Mill celebrated 200 years of continuous operation. As the mill flourished, so Ivybridge, straddling the River Erme, grew from a cluster of mill workers’ cottages to a substantial town. For a long time, the mill had been the town’s largest local employer and therefore this special event was of interest to the larger community.
A special Bicentennial luncheon was attended by guests from the mill and the local community, officers of the County and District Councils, the South West Water Authority, and senior Wiggins Teape executives. The menu included a choice of roast Devonshire beef or Devonshire Turkey and a speech was given by John Worlidge, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Wiggins Teape Group Limited.