In 1665, Josse van Robais founded a factory producing fine cloth in Abbeville, in the Hocquet district. He had been commissioned by Colbert, who wanted to encourage the manufacturing in France of products that had until then been imported. Fast forward to the 18C and the factory employed 2 500 people in buildings erected between 1709 and 1713; of which the main entrance and a dovecote remain today.