Paper Mill

Category: Civil Architecture > Mill

District: Évora > Vila Viçosa > Vila Viçosa

Location

The Paper Mill is located in a more remote area from the urban center of Vila Viçosa, about four kilometers from the town, near the old walls of Tapada Real. This peculiar site is situated at the confluence of the Borba and Beiçudo streams, a point where the force of water was once harnessed to power the mill. Although the building is now in ruins, it is still possible to observe the grandeur of its walls and its integration into the surrounding natural landscape.

Upon arrival, one can identify the main structure of what was a three-story building, and on the north side, the entrance of an aqueduct that fed the masonry vat, from where the water flowed to move the mill wheel, is still visible.

A Pioneering Mill

This mill is a landmark in the history of paper production in Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula. It was commissioned in 1636 by the then 8th Duke of Bragança, D. João II, who would later be acclaimed King D. João IV. Its creation demonstrates the Duke's great interest in various arts, including typography and musical libraries, elements for which paper was an essential medium. To ensure its operation, a master and several officials were hired, dedicated to producing paper primarily for the administrative needs of the House of Bragança.

The importance of this mill lasted until 1640, the year D. João was acclaimed King of Portugal. With the court's move to Lisbon, the mill's activity gradually diminished, leading it, over time, to its current state.

The Paper Cycle

The Paper Mill was a robust and functional building, designed for a complex production process. On the ground floor, rags were prepared in the "rotting pit", where they decomposed, and then they were cut into pieces and washed, giving rise to paper pulp. It was also here that the felts, essential to the process, were cleaned.

Moving up to the first floor, paper sheets were formed and pressed within felts, allowing the drainage of excess water. The process continued with the application of sizing, which was done again on the ground floor. The final stage, drying, took place on the second floor, known as the "espande" (drying loft), an area designed with multiple windows to ensure efficient ventilation and drying of the paper. The finishing operation, which included burnishing, smoothing, and the formation of reams, would also take place in this area or on the first floor.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt