A piece of Oakham's history was torn down this week as demolition work started at the old Corah's factory.
Internal work started at the disused clothing factory back in February but on Monday morning residents woke to find the factory walls being knocked down.
The building, which is now owned by Rutland Plastics, has been boarded up for eight years but forms part of an on-going expansion plan for the plastics company.
Barry Briggs, Rutland's dog warden, took photos of the work this week to show his wife Gwen who he met at the factory in Cold Overton Road.
He said: "Being a local lad in the Sixties, I used to meet all the girls who worked at Corah's. I even met my wife Gwen there in 1966.
"It was very much a youngsters' haven and it was pleasant to be able to drive past and look back on that.
"It makes me quite sad to see it being knocked down. There must be lots of memories inside that building and it's another little bit of our history that's gone."
The company's finance director Mike Logan said the factory demolition should be finished within three weeks. A new warehouse will be built on the site.
In July work should start on an extension to the production facility which should be finished by 2010.
Mr Logan said: "Rutland Plastics has been on this site for 52 years and we are committed to staying in Oakham and providing jobs for local people.
"We hope to be able to create new jobs in our production area when the work is complete, but there are no guarantees."
The Corah's Factory Shop in Cold Overton Road will remain open.
Please send us your memories and pictures of the Corah factory by clicking here. The full article contains 308 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
