Group Visits

A big thank you to you and your colleagues for organising such a successful visit for us to the paper mill yesterday. For the past 6 years we have been arranging visits every month for our Hertford U3A “Exploring London Group” and this is one of the best. Not only was the subject matter well presented but as organisers, it was refreshing that everything ran to time including lunch.

If you have a group of 10 or more, booking a group visit is ideal.

Group visits can be arranged on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, leaving Thursdays free for drop-in visitors. If the group is sufficiently large (30+), a weekend visit may be possible. To make the best use of your time, we typically sub-divide larger groups into parties of 12 with each party doing a different ‘activity’ at the same time. Everyone gets to do everything, just in a different order. Our ideal party size is 12 so we are quite used to welcoming groups of 24, 36, 48 or even larger.

For our group visitors we have created a special visit package that includes, tea and coffee on arrival, followed by an introductory presentation about the history of paper, Frogmore Mill and the work of the Trust. This will be followed by two, three or four activities depending on group size and interest.

For groups that wish to include meal in their visit, we can arrange for a fish and chip lunch, or delicatessen prepared buffet, to be delivered to our premises. Both are very popular.

Advance booking of at least 4 weeks is essential. We need finalised group numbers and lunch requests, a minimum of 2 weeks in advance.

For further details please call 01442 234600 or email visitors@frogmorepapermill.org.uk or complete a group visit enquiry form

Group Visit Enquiry

On which days may we visit?

We like our pre-booked groups to visit on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, wherever possible. This leaves Thursdays and the 1st Sunday in every month for drop-in visitors (groups of less than 10). This enables the Frogmore team to manage the delivery effectively with appropriate tour guides and to ensure everyone has a good time.

What group sizes can you cater for?

We cater for groups of 10 up to 50+ visitors at one time. Groups of over 15, will be subdivided after the welcome presentation. This enables us to deliver all activities effectively and safely in a working mill. Groups are often split into 3 or 4 sub-groups, which rotate through what we offer, so that everyone gets to do everything.

Can we explore the mill independently?

Sadly, no. As Frogmore is a piece of industry in action, we cannot allow visitors to wander the mill freely. All access is with a member of staff or tour guide. This is for your safety and that of the production staff. You are free to explore the visitor centre which comprises of our museum space, shop, café and gallery. In fine weather you can sit outside by the water and view the boats and plentiful wildlife.

What can we expect on the tour?

We cannot let members of the public wander at will through the working mill so tour groups are kept together. Your tour guide will cover key parts of the paper story, as it is impossible to cover all of the very many sides to the paper valley story. There are so many different facets. It is therefore helpful to know if a group has a particular interest within paper, such as engineering or art. We can then give you the most suitable tour guide and maximise the tour to your needs. Your guide will give you the opportunity to make your own sheet of paper by hand. This is dried and ready for you to take away with you as a souvenir. The guide will provide you with a fact filled tour beginning in the museum, then continuing into the working mill to see our heritage paper machines. We try to ensure that our 1902 paper machine, Fourdrinier No.4, is in action, but sometimes this is not possible due to production requirements and on the rare occasion this elderly machine decides to play up. You will also see the older Fourdrinier, No.2 of 1895, newly installed Cylinder Mould Machine, wet lap machine and everything that goes with them to prepare and finish the paper. Our heritage fire brigade display is at the far end of the mill which includes our 1938 Dennis fire engine.

But there is so much here that you are advised to build in time to explore the other museum exhibits, not mentioned in your tour. Tours take 40-60 minutes.

How much time should we allow?

You need to give your group at least 3 hours. This does vary dependent on size of group, options added and how many questions get asked!
If you use the pay and display car park, we recommend you pay for at least 4 hours. The car park is cheap. A full day is £1.70.

What else can we do?

Printing and paper are inextricably interlinked. We have displays of printing and bookbinding on the site. We run workshops in both. We can offer a letterpress printing presentation to groups who would like this to be included.
In addition, we have our Bryan Donkin boat, which can take 12 passengers plus crew. An extra charge applies but this adds a leisurely boat ride to your visit. The boat has removable covers so we can adapt to our changeable weather.

Can you provide catering

Yes we can! We greet pre-booked groups with tea and coffee on arrival. Our café offers hot and cold drinks – often artisan beer from our onsite tenants, Pope’s Yard Brewery – biscuits and snacks. We do not sell sandwiches.
For lunches, we can provide a fish and chip lunch, or deli alternative by means of outside caterers. Alternatively we can provide a cream tea for afternoon arrivals. Ask and we will try to deliver.

Is booking essential?

We request that groups of more than 10, book in advance. This enables us to support your visit and ensure sufficient tour guides are available. We are a small but growing charity, with a small team and supporting volunteers, hence we would not be able to give you the experience you wish for if you turn up unannounced.
We are happy to take provisional bookings which will be secured by payment of a deposit. Final details and group numbers need to confirmed a week prior to arrival.
We are also open for individual and family group drop-in visits, on Thursdays and the 1st Sunday of each month, when tours take place at 11.15, 13.00 and 14,45 only.

Can you cater for disabilities?

As mentioned elsewhere, we wish to ensure that everyone can come and enjoy the mill. We aim to cater for the needs of all as much as possible.

We operate within an elderly mill building that has been adapted to add ramps, adapted toilet facilities and baby changing; we even have a wheelchair and are more than happy to lay out extra chairs. There is a lift available which can take 2 or 3 people of a large motorised wheelchair between the ground floor and pulper floor. As there is only a staircase to Fourdrinier No.2 the green machine), we can divert visitors externally around the building and access it via a ramp. We just need to know in advance so that we can have an extra pair of hands to help.

We have a limited amount of blue badge holder parking at the front of our building. You are welcome to let us now in advance and we will reserve a space.

What parking is available?

We have a large site with roads on three sides. To the rear of our site, on Frogmore Road, we have our coach park which we can make available to groups visiting with classic and vintage cars.

We recommend that all visitors park in the Durrant’s Hill Road pay and display car park, HP3 5SD. It is also very cheap! This is just a moment’s walk from our site and you can see us as soon as you park. Just cross Durrant’s Hill Road.

At our Fourdrinier Road entrance we have 2 spaces for those with disabilities.