The Alphington Ponies in Torquay
In a recent article on Torquay fashion, in passing we mentioned the Alphington Ponies. There was some interest in the two ladies, so here's a short history.Twins Arabella and Eliza Durnford were born …
Kevin Dixon(Author)
The Torquay Bustle
In many nineteenth century images of Torquay we see women's clothing that exaggerates the posterior - below are a few examples from the Strand in 1870. This fashion feature was the bustle and could be…
Was Torquay built on seven hills?
The English Riviera website comments that Torquay's, "famous seven hills provide the backdrop to a waterfront scene that matches anything you'll find on the French Riviera"; and Devon Live claims that…
From Torre Abbey to Barton: Our Haunted Halloween Torquay
Torquay’s many ghosts and paranormal happenings have evolved along with our town. They tend to appear as we expect them to and change as we change.As a town, Torquay really began in the early ninetee…
Making Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Lives Matter in Torbay
Making Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Lives Matter in TorbayOn Thursday 15th October at 6pm, the second panel meeting will be held on the review into: How do we make Black, Asian and Minority Ethn…
Torbay’s Black Sailors
During the Seven Years War (1756-63) Admiral Hawke and the Western Squadron had just left Torbay when the French fleet made a sortie from the port of Brest. This led to the Battle of Quiberon Bay …
Need a small grant for your community project?
Need a small grant for your community project?Funding is now available for small community-led schemes to improve people’s health and wellbeing. This could be to helping people get more active, look a…
The Pageant of Torbay
The Legendary Ten Seconds have just released a collection of songs inspired by Torquay's' varied and fascinating past.The Legendary Ten Seconds started off as the solo music project of Ian Churchward.…
The Torquay Gibbet
We've mentioned before that Torquay’s site for public executions was Gallows Gate. Our town’s place of terminal justice is just by the roundabout at the top of Hamelin Way on the A380. At around 49…
“Torquay: a town for the newly wed; and the nearly dead”
Many towns have an origin myth- a story that tells of how their community began.The origin myth of Torquay was that our small rural communities were transformed by the families of Royal Navy officers …
Five Devonshire Murderesses
Author Julia Joyce has just published an E book, Five Devonshire Murderesses. It covers the stories of five women who went to trial in Exeter in the 1860s, and who were all incarcerated in Exeter Pris…
1688: The French raid Torquay
In February 1688 the famous diarist and MP Samuel Pepys predicted that England would soon attack France. He wrote, "Everybody doth think a Warr will follow". The cause of the looming hostilities was …
Last Call for the Agatha Christie Young Mystery Short Story Competition
Are you the next king or queen of crime?You’ve got less than 10 days to enter the International Agatha Christie Festival mystery short story competition for children and young people between 8 and 18…
Torbay learns to defend itself
For over a thousand years the folk of Torbay feared the sea and what it might bring- invaders, raiders, slavers and pirates.And come they did, though not at first by sea. The Anglo-Saxons took 300 yea…