The history of the Paper Mill began Cartiere Meridional in 1836 when the Neapolitan entrepreneur Christmas Sorvillo decided to build a paper mill at Isola del Liri.
Among the numerous properties that are part of the complex, unfortunately now fragmented in many parts so that it has not kept its original soul, is the manor house, a small Gothic church and a tower for pigeon breeding.
Inside the establishment was built a playground, a refuge and a medical care centre.
In the area around the paper mill the employees' lodgings were built and the different forms can be recognized depending on the roles held in the plant: workers, executives, directors.
The paper mill had several owners and is known as the Cartiere Meridionali, a Naples-based company that moved to Isola del Liri in 1873 and brought the paperworks to its utmost splendour.
The paper was made with poplars and fir trees from Russia and Finland or rags from all over the world.
The machines were operated on a continuous basis and produced paper rolls that were sold in Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Syria and the USA.
At one point London Times paper was produced right here at Isola del Liri.
The paper mill specialised in cigarette paper and the 'Bible paper', that thin opaque paper that could be printed on both sides.
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