The history of sweet making in Crediton is being told in a new booklet which will raise funds for the town’s museum.

Several years ago Frank Bristow, of the Crediton-based sweet manufacturer Bristow’s of Devon, researched the history of his family firm in order to give short talks about the subject. Now he has been encouraged to put the information on paper and this has resulted in the publication of Sticky Stories from the Toffee Factory.

Mr Bristow charts the history of confectionery manufacturing which has played such an important part in the town, from the 1870s, through three generations of Bristow’s and several other local companies, such as Cleaves and Authors. He is able to describe many individuals who worked at all levels of the company for longer than his own lifetime following interviews with several retired members of staff. Early contact with Cadbury’s and the firm’s pioneering role in the production of milk chocolate in this country following business contacts with manufacturers in France and Switzerland in the 1900s are also detailed in the booklet. A hand-written copy of the recipe for Cho-hone – an early form of milk chocolate – is reproduced in the book.

Several of the photographs reproduced in the booklet feature groups of staff either on the production line or commemorating a company event.

The history is published by Crediton Area History & Museum Society at £4 and is available in the town’s book shop.

It is the second publication in the Crediton History Series, which has been sponsored by Crediton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the Society to ensure local social history is recorded.

Another objective is to raise funds for Crediton Museum, which needs to boost its income by almost £3,000 a year if it is to continue beyond 2012.

A book signing is due to take place between 11am and noon on Saturday, January 28, when Mr Bristow will be at the museum in the High Street.

Bristow’s closed last October with the loss of 73 jobs but the factory was revived soon after by Cornish businessman David Ives and a team of investors.

Bristow’s was founded in 1932 by Charles Bristow and had previously been run by the same family for three generations.