James Taylor, on the orders of G.D.B. Harrison, proprietor of Loolecondera Estate, Hewaheta (along with W.M. Leake), collected tea seeds from Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and planted them along the roadsides of Loolecondera.
James Taylor, clears and plants the first field of tea on Loolecondera Estate – Field No. 7, comprising 21 acres.
Ceylon records it highest-ever Coffee exports.
1869 First signs of Haemelia Vastatrix or the ‘Coffee Rust’ disease, spelling the beginning of the end of Ceylon’s coffee industry over the ensuing two decades.
1871 James Taylor commences sales of small quantities of the first Ceylon Tea in the local Kandy market.
1872 James Taylor exports the first lot of Ceylon tea. It consisted of 2 small packs containing 23 lbs of tea from Loolecondera estate and was sold for Rs. 58.00 (valued at 3.s. 9.d., per lb)
1873 The first Tea House or factory was built in 1873 by James Taylor. It was of wattle and daub and had hessian lofts in which to wither the leaf. He invented a tea leaf roller, which was powered by a 20ft. water wheel.
1878 British Government statistics reveal that the land area under coffee cultivation was 334,686 acres.
1878 Somerville & Co., Ltd. established by William Somerville.
1880 The first successful tea-rolling machine was invented by the Walker brothers in 1880, and manufactured by their firm, John Walker & Co.
