This year's 2019 English Riviera Film Festival is in its fifth year and has become one of the South West’s major film festivals. The number of films being shown has doubled and the award categories ha…

In 1858 a terrorist attack in Paris caused a reaction in Torquay. On January 14th, 1858 the French Emperor Napoleon III was attacked in his capital by a gang of assassins who hurled three small bombs…

In 1803 the small villages that made up Torbay prepared to be invaded. Evacuation plans were drawn up and the militia assembled to meet a massive French flotilla expected to appear on the horizon.Fran…

We all know that the Normans came first in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. However, England didn't give in immediately. In 1068 I William had to march a combined army of Normans and Englishmen loyal t…

In 1346 the villages of Torbay took part in the siege and capture of Calais. It was recorded that ' The Port of Dartmouth' provided 31 ships and 757 men for the campaign - while Plymouth only found 2…

Fawlty Towers has made Torquay famous throughout the world.In 1977 and 1978 alone, the original TV show was sold to 45 stations in 17 countries and was the BBC's best-selling overseas programme for th…

The founder of Torre Abbey William Brewer was also Sheriff of Devon and, under Richard I (1189–1199), one of the justiciars appointed to administer the kingdom while the King was on the Third Crusade.…

In 1690 the French fleet was in Torbay, and while they were with us launched a devastating attack on Teignmouth.They were there following the Battle of Beachy Head which was fought on 10 July 1690 dur…

On July 5 1703 a great fleet appeared in Torbay. This were the combined English and Dutch squadrons under the command of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell (1650-1707). There were 40 English ships, along…

The Scottish poet Robert Burns famously wrote, "O would some power the giftie gie us to see ourselves as others see us." Of course, few people below the Roman Wall understood what he was on about so i…

Is having an interest in the history of our Torbay just a bit of fun?Local history is certainly enjoyable - but it is also crucial in understanding who we are, how we got here, and where we're going.N…

Torre Abbey Museum’s Open Air Cinema Festival returns in August, with 9 nights of alfresco screenings under the stars and amongst the romantic ruins. There’s something for everyone, with highligh…

When the antiquary John Leland visited Torre Abbey in the sixteenth century he described "three fair gate houses‟. One of these was the Mohun gatehouse (pictured below) while the main north gatehouse …

On August 6, 1945, the world watched as the United States bombed Japan. 80,000 people perished in Hiroshima, followed by another 70,000 victims three days later in Nagasaki. The US government then …