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Haughton Paper Mill

Northumberland Communities Web Site: Haughton Paper Mill; An interesting story in the history of Humshaugh is the part the paper mill played in the war against Napoleon. In 1793, just 5 years after the mill had been set up the British Government came up with a scheme to devalue the currency of revolutionary France. A number of paper mills in remote parts of the country, including that at Humshaugh, were commissioned to make paper to be used in the printing of forged Assignats. [Assignats were the currency issued by the revolutionary government of France] The forged notes were sent to Flanders with the British Army under the command of the Duke of York. One of the moulds for making the paper still survives and is in possession of Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne.