Torquay

Torquay has been one of the UK’s top holiday destinations since Victorian Times when the gentry promenaded, bathing huts were wheeled down the beaches and anyone who was anyone had an attractive villa overlooking the sea. It was the Victorians who first used the Riviera name to describe their favourite resort and their legacy remains to this day with sparkling white villas perched on the verdant hilltops, beautiful gardens around the seafront and elegant Victorian facades along the main streets. Torquay’s famous seven hills provide the backdrop to a waterfront scene that matches anything you’ll find on the French Riviera.
Torquay's waterfront is the focus of life in the town. Here you'll find the palm-lined promenade, seafront gardens, a lively harbour and an international marina. Yet within minutes of the town centre there are beautiful beaches easily accessible by foot, road or water. There is an abundance of pavement cafes, pubs, restaurants and nightlife, good quality shops and a host of attractions to suit every interest.

Torquay may owe its very existence as the resort we know today to the French war at the end of the 18th Century. It was at this time that it gained a reputation among the families of naval officers stationed in the bay for its pleasant climate and sheltered situation. An early visitor in 1794 is recorded as saying “Instead of the poor uncomfortable village we had expected, how great it was our surprise at seeing a pretty range of neat new buildings, fitted up for summer visitors, who may certainly here enjoy carriage rides, bathing, retirement and a most romantic situation.”

Its reputation spread rapidly and attracted those unwilling or unable to make the long journey to the south of France. In the 19th century its inhabitants were reported to be of the “highest class” living a fine lifestyle with many servants and tradespeople around to the meet their every whim. Many grand villas and terraces were built during the time and it is these fine buildings that form a large proportion of our present day hotels such as the Bishop’s Court built in 1844 and now grade II listed, the Livermead House, one of the first seafront buildings and the Osborne Hotel, part of a fine terrace overlooking the sea.

Torquay’s history of course stretched much further back than the 1800s. The famous picture-postcard village of Cockington has a recorded history stretching back nearly a thousand years. Soon after the Norman Conquest a family who became known as the de Cockingtons were given the manor. From that time (about 1070) until 1930, Cockington had only three owners – the de Cockingtons (who lived there for 281 years); the Carys (1375 – 1654); the Mallocks (279 years). Cockington was the venue for the Devon County Agricultural Show of 1882 an event which runs to this day but now takes place at a vast showground near Exeter.

Torre Abbey, once the home of a local land-owning family called the Carys (from Castle Cary), also has a long history as it started life as a medieval monastery.

With its unrivalled Bay, English Riviera has been famed for its watersports for many a year and in 1948 the watersports events of the Olympic Games were held here. The Olympic flame was brought from London and burned for the duration at Torre Abbey Gardens. Before then perhaps the largest gathering of boats was the 113 ships of war anchored in the bay in 1905. J Class yachts were a stunning site recalled in the Bay and the Prince of Wales raced his to win the main regatta events in both 1893 and 1894. Torquay’s harbour, although not as commercial as Brixham was busy with coal imports and wool from Australia which then made its way to the huge spinning mills of the North.

In the Bay today you will see a remnant of the past as three ex-Royal Navy motor launches, converted after the war, now run the Torquay to Brixham ferry route. All are named Western Lady.
 

 

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