Town says knickers to washing complaints
Residents hang clothes outside in solidarity with mother who was criticised for drying pants outdoors
A town in Devon has united to support a mother who was accused by local traders of lowering the tone of the town by hanging her washing out in front of her house. Residents of Colyton, which was described as “the most rebellious town in Devon” in the 17th century for its support for the Duke of Monmouth’s revolt, have begun a “knicker rebellion” by hanging underwear on washing lines and clothes racks in front gardens and alleyways across the town.
IT WAS once the epicentre of the fight against the Catholic monarch James II, earning a reputation as one of the most rebellious towns in the country after its men volunteered in droves to follow the Duke of Monmouth.
Now the winds of dissent are once more blowing through Colyton, but this time over the delicate matter of underwear, and a woman’s right to hang smalls out in public. It began when Claire Mountjoy, a single mother of three, received an email from local traders instructing her not to hang her washing out to dry, for fear it would lower the tone of the neighbourhood.
In response hundreds of fellow residents have taken to displaying bras, nighties, pants and other items of laundry outside their homes as a show of solidarity with Ms Mountjoy.
The email was sent by an anonymous correspondent on behalf of the Devon town’s traders, claiming that the sight of her underwear was likely to offend passing tourists.
It stated: “I am writing on behalf of local businesses and your neighbourhood to ask you with kindness not to put your washing out at the front of your house. We all try hard to keep our lovely town thriving and looking good. The visitors walk up from the tram and your terrace is a prime location.
“While we understand you have a small house… would you please consider using a tumble dryer or hanging the washing indoors. This letter is not written with malice but we ask you to please help us all keep Colyton a town we can all be proud of.”
That was enough to summon up the same spirit of rebellion that led to dozens of Colyton’s citizens to follow the Duke of Monmouth into battle in the summer of 1685.
Ms Mountjoy, 47, posted the email on her Facebook page and was soon deluged with messages of support.
As the great knicker rebellion spread items of underwear began to appear on washing lines and clothes racks in front gardens and alleyways across the town.
Ms Mountjoy said: “It is so lovely that I live in a community that’s so supportive of me and doing something that peoher ple have done for generations – hanging the washing to dry outside their homes. The community response has been amazing – the rebellious nature of Colyton has come to the fore and the laundry revolution has begun!”
Ms Mountjoy, an education officer for Devon Wildlife Trust, said her favourite gesture of support was the bra that one sympathiser managed to erect on top of one of the town’s flagpoles.
“It shows the fabulous community spirit Colyton has – it’s known as the most rebellious town in Devon. That kind of streak is still in its people,” she said. “It is quite strange that someone should be so upset about it. They suggest that visitors would be put off, but actually our laundry revolution is actually bringing in more visitors.”
On Saturday, the local Nunsford Nutters Carnival Club strung up a washing line decorated with pyjamas between the town hall and the Colcombe Castle pub in support of Ms Mountjoy.
Gail Jarman, one of the organisers, said “The reaction for Claire has been fantastic – the amount of people who have got behind it is absolutely brilliant. The note is ridiculous – none of us are supporting the person who wrote it. You have got to dry your washing somewhere.”
Alison Stenning, a neighbour, said “We should have an annual Colyton Hanging Day when everyone hangs their washing in front of their house.”
‘They suggest that visitors would be put off, but our laundry revolution is bringing in more visitors’