Castle Circus: a Torquay Odyssey
In May 2022 a local newspaper ran an article, “What life is really like in Torquay ‘no...
Torquay’s Sometimes Island
Also known by young locals over the years as Seagull Island, Crab Island, Heartbreak Rock or even Rat...
Torquay: a woman’s town
During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, some commentators were referring to ‘men’s towns’. These had a conspicuous masculine presence...
Torquay’s Lost Medieval Harbour
If you drive along the Torbay Road from Torquay towards Paignton you pass through Livermead. The name is Old English...
Torquay’s Lav Affair with the Public Toilet
Public toilet, lavatory, bog, public convenience, khazi, loo, the ladies and gents, the water closet, and other, less...
The Revolutionary Torbay Wimpy Bender
In a time before Burger King; predating even McDonald’s; there was Wimpy. During the mid-1950s rock and roll dominated the...
Torquay’s Haunted Canyons
“The lawnIs pressed by unseen feet, and ghosts returnGently at twilight, gently go at dawn,The sad intangible who grieve and...
Prehistoric Babbacombe’s Walls Hill
Overlooking the sea at Babbacombe Bay is Walls Hill. It’s the site of a prehistoric field system which dates from...
“Peculiar People”: Torquay’s Primitive Methodists
Nineteenth century Torquay experienced massive change as the town’s population increased from 800 at the beginning of the century to...
The Alphington Ponies in Torquay
We all know that Torquay hosts good number of ‘characters’, rule-breakers and, let’s be honest, cranks. This goes back a...
Torquay Peculiar: a free light-hearted illustrated Talk
On Wednesday 21 June at 1.30, St Luke’s Social Activities Club is proud to present: Torquay Peculiar: a tour of...
The Swan, the Gull, and the Spirit of Torquay
Symbols illuminate ideas and allow us to go beyond what is seen. They do this by creating links...
Torquay’s King’s Gardens: Of Donkeys, Rats, Swans, and mini-Yachts
“Model yachting is a pastime that is growing in favour. Every Briton has an infusion of sea salt in his...
A little bit of the Himalayas: Torquay’s Maze
In 1924 Torquay County Council purchased land for a new park. It cost £40,000; todays value would be £3,112,000. This...
Torquay and the world’s greatest kidnapping
This is about Torquay’s role in the world’s most famous kidnapping and an extortionate ransom demand. It all began with...
Asset Stripping Torquay: From an English church to a Pittsburgh Museum
This is the story of how two gigantic Torquay paintings ended up in Pittsburgh Museum with the assistance of...
Edwin goes to Newton Abbot and doesn’t come back
We all know that some strange things can happen to Torquay folk if they travel too far up the Newton...
Buffalo Bill fights Custer’s Last Stand at Torquay’s Asda
In 1904 the Wild West came to Torquay. William F Cody (1846-1917) was better known as Buffalo Bill. He pioneered...
Carers are invited to ‘The Great Torquay Saturday Night Out’, at Paignton Library, Monday 5th of June 2:00-3:30
‘The Great Torquay Saturday Night Out’ is one of the free events for people who care for a family member...
Torquay’s Dance of Death: the Memento Mori
Just off Torquay’s Lucius Street is the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Andrew. It was at the heart of the...
