DEVELOPERS are being warned they must stop illegal work being carried out at Tonedale House and Tonedale Mill in Wellington or face legal action.

Taunton Deane Borough Council and Historic England are seeking to halt any further unauthorised work being done at one of the most historically important industrial sites in the country.

The interior of Grade II listed Tonedale House – the old mill owner’s house – has been stripped out, and the council believes the former boiler room at the Grade II* listed mill could be torn down and the hugely important historic machinery ripped out and sold.

The complex, which has planning consent for conversion into flats, forms part of the historic Fox Bros woollen mills. The buildings are historically and architecturally important and listing helps to protect them for present and future generations to enjoy. Listed Building Consent must be applied for if changes are to be made to a listed building.

The council is investigating if any works have been carried out to the boiler room and machinery. It is considering prosecution for unauthorised works carried out to date and the serving of an injunction to prevent any further loss of historic significance to the buildings.

For the full story see this week’s Wellington Weekly News