Bringing the Page to Life:
Papermaking on the Water of Leith Exhibition
Bringing the Page to Life was staged at the Museum of Edinburgh in 2004 and then travelled to various venues in Scotland and also London and France. The exhibition examined the papermaking industry on the Water of Leith during the twentieth century until the closure of the last mill in the 1989. It focused on work in the mills, technological change and innovations in the industry, range of paper and paper products, impact and shape on the communities along the Water of Leith and the demise of the industry. It looked at the workers employed in the industry, their roles, jobs, employment conditions; relations between workers and managers; training; social organisation; welfare provision and facilities; role and impact of the unions and hours of work.
This exhibition gave visitors the opportunity to learn about the history of papermaking on this river, examine the working lives of the mill employees and look at the impact the papermills had on the communities in which they were based. They also had the unique opportunity to listen to the personal reminiscences of those who worked in the papermills on this river.
If you would like to view text of the papermaking exhibition click here
