 The first paper mill in Cullompton dates from 1729 , with mills being set up near by at Hele and Higher <unk> in 1767 , at Lower <unk> <unk> and Langford c 1788 . These would have been small water @-@ powered vat mills , where paper was made by hand , generally by women and children . Records show that the mill in Cullompton was owned by a Mr Simon Mills in 1757 and was taken over by a Mr Theodore Dart in 1799 . There followed a number of different owners of whom one of the most significant was Albert Reed who purchased the mill in 1883 . His brother , William Reed , established a partnership with a Mr C King Smith . The Reed & Smith group ( which acquired New <unk> Mill in 1950 ) became one of the biggest <unk> in the UK . A <unk> machine was installed in 1892 and continued to make paper at Higher Kings until about 1972 . A new machine was built in 1956 to make blue sugar bags and other products , and has been modified over the years to make different grades of paper and card . St Regis acquired Higher Kings in the early 1980s and since then the mill has diversified into making a wide range of recycled coloured papers and boards . It is now owned by Asia File Corporation . 
