Highlands in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Site of Gilpin Mills
Photographed By Stephen J Duncan, June 9, 2014
1. Site of Gilpin Mills Marker
Inscription.
Site of Gilpin Mills. . Along this curve of the Brandywine, two brothers, Joshua and Thomas Gilpin, established the first paper mill in Delaware in 1787. Their high quality paper was handmade, one sheet at a time, from rags carted up from nearby Wilmington. In 1795, Thomas Gilpin built a mansion overlooking the mills and called it ‘Kentmere’ after their ancestral home in England. Thomas Gilpin revolutionized the paper industry by inventing and patenting a machine to make paper in an endless roll. Continuous paper manufacturing began on this site in August 1817. In May 1821, the famous Lavoisier’s Atlas was published on Gilpin paper. The Gilpins overcame a flood in 1822 and a massive fire in 1825 before selling the business in 1837. The mills were destroyed by flooding in 1839.
Along this curve of the Brandywine, two brothers, Joshua and Thomas Gilpin, established the first paper mill in Delaware in 1787. Their high quality paper was handmade, one sheet at a time, from rags carted up from nearby Wilmington. In 1795, Thomas Gilpin built a mansion overlooking the mills and called it ‘Kentmere’ after their ancestral home in England. Thomas Gilpin revolutionized the paper industry by inventing and patenting a machine to make paper in an endless roll. Continuous paper manufacturing began on this site in August 1817. In May 1821, the famous Lavoisier’s Atlas was published on Gilpin paper. The Gilpins overcame a flood in 1822 and a massive fire in 1825 before selling the business in 1837. The mills were destroyed by flooding in 1839.
Erected 2006 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-166.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1821.
Location. 39° 45.86′ N, 75° 33.468′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Highlands. Marker is on Mill Rd, 0.1 miles north of Riddle Ave, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wilmington DE 19806, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker sits between two office buildings where the mill once sat.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2014, by Stephen J Duncan of Wilmington, Delaware. This page has been viewed 706 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 10, 2014, by Stephen J Duncan of Wilmington, Delaware. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
