Contact Details

holiday@torbay.gov.uk
Tel: 01803 211 211

Listen using ReadSpeaker

Blue Plaques of the English Riviera

The English Riviera is full of famous connections and has a wealth of blue plaques in the area. With this rich heritage why not take a tour of the 45 plaques in the area?

Torquay Plaques

Brunels Barn Close, Barton
A small area of homes, a school and a chapel planned by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for his workers.

The Rainbow - Home of Ella Rowcroft
Daughter of the Sir Edward Payson Wills of Imperial Tobacco fame, Ella Rowcroft was the main contributor to the medical facilities of the English Riviera. Ella left her home Pilmuir in Trust as a convalescent home, which today is Rowcroft Hospice.

The Torquay Market - Designer J.T Harvey
One of the largerst and oldest in Torquay. The market is situated in the towns centre and is open daily to the public.

Madrepole Place - Torquays First School
In 1826 Torquay's First National School was built.

Torre Abbey - Home of the Cary Family
Founded as a monastery for Premonstratensian Canons in 1196. The Abbey was a family residence from 1539 and in 1662 was purchased by Torquay's famous Cary family.

Spanish Barn - Monks of Torre Abbey
Built by the Monks of Torre Abbey as a tithe barn in 1196 the Spanish Barn is the oldest and largest in Britain. Situated within yard of the Abbey it was previously a coach house, a jail for prisoners of war during the Spanish Armade, a gymnasium and today is used for exhibitions.

Cockington Court - Squires of Cockington
Home of Torquay's famous Cary family who eventually sold the Court to the Mallock family who were resident for another 278 years. The property was sold to the Borough of Torquay in 1932 and is now a craft centre and restaurant that is open to the public. Also the offices of Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust.

Drum Inn at Cockington - Sir Edwin Lutyens
Completed in 1936, the Drum Inn was built by the famous architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Rosetor - Baroness Burdett Coutts
Heiress to the Coutts Bank family fortune Angela Burdett Coutts spent her life becoming a philanthropist and deliberately giving money and her patronage to every deserving cause in Britain and around the world.

Mallock Family - Fishermens Cottage's
Site of a number of fishermans cottages dating back to the 12th and 13th century. A Livermead Cottage built in 1825 for the Mallock family as a small hotel was destroyed by fire in November 1886. Today the Livermead Cliff sits astride the site and can be visited by the public.

Livermead House Charles Kingsley
When the Mallock family decided to build a house in 1820 for their guests they chose a site opposite the Livermead beach. The famous Charles Kingsley of the Water Babies fame brought his wife to the house in 1854. Today the house is the Livermead House Hotel on Torquay Road.

William Froude - Chelston Cross 1810 - 1879
Chelston Cross (now private appartments) was the home of the inventor William Froude. He had worked with I K Brunel on the design of propellers but eventually his work testing model ships led to the modern day testing tanks.

Torquays First Methodist Church
This was the site of eight cottage terrace, two of which were used from 1807 as the first Methodist Church in Torquay.

The Pavilion - Major Garrett/R.Narracott
Open to the public in 1912 as a theatre. Today it still sports the original octagonal cupolas at each corner of the roof and the interior is superb. Today the pavilion is a shopping centre.

Vivian Institute - Edward Vivian 1808-1893
The Salem Chapel was built by Robert Stark (Starkites) in 1838 and was to become an "Institute for the Promotion of Science and Art" in 1878.

William Kitson - Maker of Torquay
The "Maker of Torquay" this solicitor, banker land agent, Local Authority Chairman and Churchwarden was the man responisible for most of the early buildings of Torquay during a thirty year period from the 1830's.

Church of St John the Evangelist
The forerunner to this Church was Torquay Chapel consecrated on the site in August 1823. Over the following 63 years the Church of St John was finally completed by April 1885.

The Artist - John Salter
Born at North Tawton John Salter came to Torquay in the 1860's. He lived and worked in a studio at Carlton House, The Terrace in Torquay between 1878-1890.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Hotel Regina
The famous poet came to Torquay in 1838 to recuperate after a serious illness and eventually stayed at what is today The Hotel Regina, Victoria Parade.

Torquay Natural History Society/Museum
The Society was founded in 1884 but it took another 30 years before the Museum, Library and lecture rooms were built.

Woodfield - Home of Edward Vivian

Hesketh Crescent and JT & W Harvey Brothers
Built by the Torquay brothers for the Palk family. Hesketh remains one of the finest ans most outstanding examples of Regency architecture in Torquay.

Cleave Court - Home of Beverley Nicholls
Cleave Court, later Riviera Court, was home of the writer Beverley Nichols from 1913-1924.

Normount
Neo-Classical Villa built in 1844. Now a large hotel - Bishops Court Hotel. The original villa is one of the few remaining Italianate style villa's of the Victorain era.

Rev'd John MacEnery - Explorer Kents Cavern
Father MacEnery, brought to Torquay to be Chaplain to the Cary family, was the first man to record evidence of pre-historic man.

William Pengelly - Kents Cavern
Teacher, lecturer, geologist and philanthropist. William Pengelly spent fifteen years of his life until 1880 excavating Kents Cavern.

Ilsham Chapel - Canons of Torre Abbey
Originally an oratory the Chapel lies in the grounds of Stoodley Knowle School in Ilsham Valley.

Bishopstowe - Bishop Henry Phillpotts
The Palace Hotel in Torquay was formally built for the Bishop of Exeter, Henry Phillpotts.

St Marychurch Town Hall - G. Bridgman
The second Town Hall of Torquay from 1883, also housed offices for the Medical Officer, the Surveyor, the Collector and even a workmens meeting room stables and yard.

Orestone - John Calcott Horsley
Brother in law to Isambard K. Brunel, Rev. Horsley was also an artist and designer of the World's first Christmas card.

Abbey Hall
Torquays first Grammar School. Originally opened as a Teachers Centre in September 1904.

Erith House
Built in 1860/1861 to accommodate Gentlewomen suffering from chest ailments.

Meadfoot House and Charles Darwin
Part of Hesketh Crescent, Meadfoot House was leased to Charles Darwin and his family for six weeks during the summer of 1861.

Paignton Blue Plaques

Primley House - Home of Herbert Whitley
The Primley dates back to Tudor times. When the Belfield family sold the land to the Whitley family it was to be Edward Whitley that laid the foundations of a modern day Paignton Zoo.

Oliver Heaviside - Scientist 1850 -1925
Incredible mathematician and scientist who is mainly remembered for predicting that radio signals were reflected back to earth. The "Heaviside Layer" was named after him. A recluse he lived at the family home 6/8 Palace Avenue.

Bijou Theatre
The Gerston Hotel built by Arthur Hyde Dendy encompassed the Royal Bijou theatre which became famous for the world premiere of Gilbert and Sullivan's comique opera "The Pirates of Penzance". Plaque on the side of Hyde Road.

Bishops Tower - Bishops Place
Paigntons oldest building dating back to William the Conqueror. Originally

Paignton Clink - Medieval Lock Up
Established in the 1500's and used until 1867 this medieval Lock Up. This was used for petty offenders.

Washington M Singer
Known today as the Palace Hotel on Paignton seafront. This was the home of Washington Singer. One of the famous Singer sewing machine family.

Redcliffe - Home of Col.Robert Smith
Col. Smith arrived in Torbay during the 1860's with a vision for "Redcliffe". This was completed in 1864 and today is the Redcliffe Hotel on Paigntons seafront. This unique building has a tunnel to the beach.

Oldway Mansion - Home of the Singer family
Built by Isaac Singer and adapted in the style of the Palace of Versailles by his son Paris. Oldway Mansion was sold to Paignton Council in 1946 by Lady Leeds, daughter of Paris Singer. The Mansion and grounds are open to the public.

Bishops Place Cottages
These four cottages were built by I K Brunel to house his railway company doctor, engineer, architect/surveyor and chief buyer. The doctor was based at No.1 and 150 years on it is still a medical practice.

Brixham

Richard Walter Wolston 1799 - 1883
Solicitor, notary public and entrepreneur. Richard Wolston lived at Parkham Wood House - now Saxon Heights Parkham Road, from 1831 to 1870. He established the Torbay Paintworks and the Churston to Brixham Railway.

Berry Head House and the Rev'd Henry Lyte
The home of the Vicar of All Saints Church in Brixham. This famous clergyman wrote "Abide with Me" in September 1847. The house today has become the Berry Head Hotel.

Robert Graves and Vale House
Vale House at Galmpton was the home of Robert Graves the famous novelist and poet throughout the Second World War.

Further information on the Blue Plaques are detailed in Torbay Heritage Trail leaflet, which contains a map with all the locations of interest in the area. These leaflets can be purchased from any of the Tourist Information Centres on the English Riviera or contact the Torbay Civic Society.

With thanks to Torbay Civic Society.
If you would like to obtain a specific leaflet on any of the Plaques, please write to: Torbay Civic Society, 139 St Marychurch Road, Torquay, Devon. TQ1 3HW. Or visit the website www.torbaycivicsociety.co.uk