Richard-de-Bas paper mill

The paper mill of Richard-de-Bas in Ambert in the natural region of Livradois, in the department of Puy-de-Dôme, in the center of Massif central, is one of the oldest French companies. It is labeled Living heritage company.

History
This mill is believed to date back to 1326. It takes its name from a family of papermakers in the 15th century: the Richard and Bas being the geographical distinction between the six buildings around the reach. From 1400 to 1850 the skins of animals were tanned and since then rags have been used to make paper pulp.

This valley of the Dore is known in particular for its numerous paper mills; up to 400 mills produced paper from rags between Thiers and Ambert. True to this tradition, the Moulin Richard de Bas produces high-quality paper that is used for the restoration of writings, watercolours, lithographs, etc.

The facades and roofs of all the buildings, the machinery rooms on the ground floor, the rooms on the living floor in the main building, the barn and the drying shed are classified as historic monuments by order of 30 December 1983.

It was in 1940 that Marius Péraudeau (1906–1992), bought from the newspaper Le Moniteur du Puy-de-Dôme (1856–1944) this mill then abandoned after the death of Claude Chantelauze, its owner who occupied the premises. Marius Péraudeau, who was 36 years old at the time and working as an industrial paper sales representative, decided to come to the rescue of a profession that was already on the verge of disappearing. On October 14, 1940, the Marshal Pétain, head of the French State, comes at the invitation of Henri Pourrat to meet the working people in Ambert, near Vichy, on a visit to the paper mill, and ordered a ream of paper watermarked with his emblem. He therefore founded an association: "La Feuille Blanche", which created a summer camp for apprentices in the graphic arts professions (papermakers, photoengravers, printers, bookbinders) and which made it possible to hide some resistance fighters wanted by the Gestapo. In 1943, he founded the Historical Paper Museum, of which he became curator. In 1945, he organised a tour of his factory. He collaborated with the greatest artists of his time to create works of art such as: Bernard Buffet, Salvador Dali, Jacques Prévert, Joseph Foret (1901–1991), art publisher, Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes, Léonor Fini, Léonard Foujita, Pierre-Yves Trémois, Georges Mathieu, Ossip Zadkine, and writers such as: Emil Cioran, Jean Cocteau, Jean Giono, Jean Guitton, Ernst Jünger, Daniel-Rops, Edmond Rostand, and others Michel Ciry, Albert Decaris, Ernst Fuchs, Roger Lersy.

After experiencing some difficulties, the business started again in 1997 under the direction of Emmanuel Kerbourc'h, grandson of the founder, who is now thinking of passing on the legacy to the next generation.