Among the many services the late Peter Christie performed for Bideford was the publication of an excellent book on our collar industry. From the 1870s to the 1920s, generations of local people – mainly women – worked in factories producing detachable starched collars which were sold all over the UK and as far afield as America. It was, as Peter Christie says, ‘the single largest industrial undertaking in the town during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.’

Now an important part of this heritage is about to disappear. A notification has been lodged with Torridge District Council to demolish the buildings on the Littlejohns’ coal depot site on Westcombe Lane. These include a magnificent four storey building, previously a steam mill, which from 1873 became Bideford’s first collar factory, employing many hundreds of women and men. A second building – the one facing the road which bears the ‘Littlejohns’ sign – was built in the late 19^th or early 20^th century as part of the collar factory complex. The Council has 28 days to determine whether their permission is required for the demolition of both buildings, but it appears that there is no legal basis on which the notice can be contested and, sadly, demolition work will take place in the next few months.

Despite the building being of such importance to our local heritage, an application for listed status was turned down by Historic England in 2018. Their report acknowledges that the larger older building, built in 1827, was originally a steam-powered corn mill. Both buildings have undergone alterations during their history which according to Historic England ‘have diminished the legibility’ of the buildings’ original function and therefore they therefore fell short of the standard for listed status. However, Historic England confirmed that the former mill building has strong local interest. 

The stated intention of the owners in demolishing the buildings is to allow development on the site. Planning consent granted in 2020 for six flats and seven houses – which would have conserved the mill building – has now lapsed. The site is a difficult one, incorporating a former mill pond and culvert, and access is difficult. It is unclear whether demolishing both buildings and clearing the site will assist or hinder future planning consent.

The erasure of this aspect of Bideford’s history is particularly painful given Peter Christie’s interest in subject. Perhaps, in compiling his book, with its excellent photographs, he foresaw that this heritage site would ultimately fall victim to uncaring development.