Editing Newton Abbot (section)

===Wool and leather===
In medieval times Devon was an important sheep-rearing county. Many towns had their own wool and cloth industries and Newton Abbot had woollen mills, [[fulling|fullers]], dyers, spinners, weavers and tailors. In particular, [[fellmonger]]ing (where wool is completely removed from the sheepskin) was well established in the town. In 1724 [[Daniel Defoe]] wrote that Newton Abbot had a thriving [[serge (fabric)|serge]] industry that sent goods to [[Holland]] via [[Exeter]]. The annual cloth fair was the town's busiest fair. Over the 19th century, Vicary's mills became an important employer in the town and by the 1920s was employing over 400 men. However, by 1972 business had declined and the works closed down.<ref>Jones (1986) pp. 40–44.</ref>

Associated with the woollen industry was the leather business. Hides left after the fell-mongering process were made into leather. Tanners, boot and shoemakers, glovers and saddlers were all in business in Newton Abbot. As with the wool industry, business flourished over 600 years until after the Second World War.<ref>Jones (1986) pp. 44–46.</ref>