83-574: Totnes Priory was a priory at Totnes in south Devon , England . It was founded by Juhel de Totnes , feudal baron of Totnes . The foundation charter dated circa 1087 is held at the Devon Heritage Centre in Exeter under reference 312M/TY1, the text of which, translated from Latin, is as follows: "Juhellus filius Aluuredi. To God and martyrs ss. Sergius and Bachus, and the Abbot of
166-453: A coastal zoo owned by Paignton Zoo , was later built on the site of the complex. The stone arches of the public bath were incorporated into the shop at Living Coasts. Development of the site as a marine animal exhibit was first proposed in early 1999 in response to a call from Torbay Council for submissions from interested parties. The project, developed by Kay Elliott architects, included an exhibit to house marine birds, rather than fish, due to
249-460: A corporate body officially called the "mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Torquay", but generally known as the corporation or the town council. The borough was enlarged in 1900 to take in the neighbouring parish of St Marychurch and the Chelston area from the neighbouring parish of Cockington . The rest of Cockington was absorbed into the borough in 1928. In 1911 a new town hall
332-449: A long recorded history , dating back to 907, when its first castle was built. By the twelfth century it was already an important market town, and its former wealth and importance may be seen from the number of merchants' houses built in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Today, the town has a sizeable alternative and " New Age " community, known as a place where one can live a bohemian lifestyle, though has in recent times also gained
415-627: A merchant of Totnes, whose Easter Sepulchre type monument survives in the south chancel aisle of St Mary's Church, Totnes. In 1544 he conveyed the properties to feoffees for the uses of himself and his son Bernard Smith (by 1522-1591), MP for Totnes in 1558, mayor of Totnes 1549-50 and c.1565-6 and escheator of Devon and Cornwall 1567-8. 50°25′55″N 3°41′16″W / 50.431854°N 3.687836°W / 50.431854; -3.687836 ( Totnes Priory ) Totnes Totnes ( / ˈ t ɒ t n ə s / TOT -nuhss or / t ɒ t ˈ n ɛ s / tot- NESS )
498-494: A notable feature of the area; the trees were introduced into the area from New Zealand in 1820, and since then have flourished. The main beaches of Torquay are Oddicombe Beach , Meadfoot Beach , Maidencombe, Watcombe, Babbacombe Beach, Anstey's Cove, Redgate, Torre Abbey Sands, Corbyn Sands and Institute Beach and Hollacombe Beach. The first two of these held European Blue Flag status in 2012. The Sticklepath fault line, which runs across Devon from Bideford Bay to Torquay,
581-527: A reputation as being a hotspot for conspiracy theorists within the UK. The 2021 census recorded a population of 9,214, an increase from the 2011 census which gave a population of 8,076. According to the Historia Regum Britanniae written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in around 1136, "the coast of Totnes" was where Brutus of Troy , the mythical founder of Britain, first came ashore on
664-524: A result of a series of public gatherings with experts, and the organisation of a number of special interest groups, the community has come together with lecturers and trainers shared with Schumacher College , through a process of participative strategic planning, to hone their skills in project development. As a result of the initiatives in Totnes, a large number of other communities have started " Transition Town " projects, and there are now more than 400 around
747-404: A summary of the 2001 census results on religion , see below, Demographics Torquay has about 60 churches from a wide variety of Christian denominations. Central Church ( Methodist and United Reformed Church ) has a notable pierced screen wall facade. St Matthias's Church, Wellswood, was built as a chapel-of-ease to St Mark's, Torwood, in the 1850s and became a parish church in 1880. In the 1970s,
830-596: A £3 million funding project, resulting in its reopening on 3 October 2010, as part of the Royal Terrace Gardens festival. In 2013, the Torquay Pavilion was closed after a loss in funding and attempts to reopen it under new funding are ongoing. There is only one tier of local government covering Torquay, being the unitary authority of Torbay , which covers a larger area than just Torquay, also including Paignton and Brixham . Torbay Council
913-535: Is a Tudor covered walkway that was built to protect the dairy products once sold here from the sun and rain. Totnes Elizabethan House Museum is in one of the many authentic Elizabethan merchant's houses in the town, built around 1575. The A38 passes about 7 miles (11 km) to the west of Totnes, connected to the town by the A384 from Buckfastleigh and the A385 which continues to Paignton . The town also lies on
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#1732797851142996-676: Is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon , England, within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . It is about 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Paignton , about 7 miles (11 km) west-southwest of Torquay and about 20 miles (32 km) east-northeast of Plymouth . It is the administrative centre of the South Hams District Council . Totnes has
1079-488: Is a local newspaper serving the town and the surrounding South Hams area in Devon . It is owned by Tindle Newspapers . Published weekly, it appears on Thursdays. Its first issue dated 7 April 1860 was under the title of The Totnes Weekly Times . There have been several title changes over the years. In the 1931 edition of Willing's Press Guide it is listed as the Totnes Times and Devon News . A microfiche archive of
1162-473: Is appended to it a note of divisions of tithes in the manors of Roger de Nunant, Juhel's successor in the barony of Totnes. Mentioned are: Bredefort, Asprintona, Conourda, Turlestagno, Buccelanda, Cherletona, Pola, Briseham, Cherchetona, Clauatona, Trecechota, Paurdan, Tressetona, Essleia, Urdihella, Lega, Brutefort; tithe of Radulfus de Eschagriis, Rogerius de Estancomba; of Coleton, Totenesio, Corno-orda; of Robert son of David of Bocchedona and Loleurda and Samarus
1245-505: Is based in Torquay, having its headquarters at Torquay Town Hall . Historically, Torquay was in the ancient parish of Tormoham. Until 1835 the parish was controlled by the landowners and the vestry , in the same way as most rural areas. More urban forms of local government began in 1835 when improvement commissioners were appointed for the parish. The unelected commissioners were replaced in 1850 with an elected local board . One of
1328-541: Is built of rich red Devonian sandstone. A prominent feature of the town is the Eastgate—an arch spanning the middle of the main street. This Elizabethan entrance to the walled town was destroyed in a fire in September 1990, but was rebuilt. The ancient Leechwell , so named because of the supposed medicinal properties of its water, and apparently where lepers once came to wash, still provides fresh water. The Butterwalk
1411-550: Is by the side of the harbour, is owned by Torbay Council and operated by ATG (Ambassador Theatre Group). With about 1,500 seats, it is Torquay's largest theatre and plays host to touring independent production companies. The Princess Theatre also holds weddings and other functions such as parties and large seminars. TOADS Theatre Company operates the Little Theatre in Meadfoot in the converted St Mark's Church, hosting both
1494-603: Is in AD ;907, when it was fortified by King Edward the Elder as part of the defensive ring of burhs built around Devon, replacing one built a few years earlier at nearby Halwell. The site was chosen because it was on an ancient trackway which forded the river at low tide. Between the reigns of Edgar and William II (959–1100) Totnes intermittently minted coins. Some time between the Norman Conquest in 1066 and
1577-577: Is made up of a number of small settlements that amalgamated into the town of Torquay. The town's historic core consists of Tormohun (also historically known as Tormoham), Wellswood, The Warberries, Upton and Ellacombe and is based upon what was once the holdings of the Palk family. In 1900, Chelston and Livermead, part of the Cockington estate owned by the Mallocks, were annexed by the town and this
1660-558: Is one of many geological faults criss-crossing Torbay; the Babbacombe Cliff Railway takes advantage of one of these fault lines. On the coast of Wellswood is London Bridge , a limestone arch which can be seen from a viewpoint on the South West Coast Path . Torquay has two railway stations. Torquay railway station is situated near the sea, close to Torre Abbey Sands. Torre railway station
1743-595: Is possible that the stone was originally the one from which the town crier , or bruiter called out his news; or it may be le Brodestone , a boundary stone mentioned in several 15th century disputes: its last-known position in 1471 was below the East Gate. The Middle English prose Brut ( c. 1419 ) places the fight between Brutus' general Corineus , and the British giant Gogmagog "at Totttenes", while Cornish antiquary Richard Carew suggested that
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#17327978511421826-404: Is provided by BBC South West and ITV West Country . Television signals are received from the nearby Beacon Hill TV transmitter and the local relay transmitter. Local radio stations are BBC Radio Devon on 104.3 FM, Heart West on 100.5 FM, Greatest Hits Radio Devon on 105.5 FM and Soundart Radio , a community based station which broadcast on 102.5 FM and also online. The Totnes Times
1909-558: Is situated a little inland adjacent to the road leading to Newton Abbot . Not all trains stop at Torre. As of 2013, there were plans for station improvements at Torquay and Torre (and at Paignton) and to build a new station at Edginswell. Torquay is connected to the UK motorway network by the A380, which traces the outskirts of the town as Hellevoetsluis Way and Hamelin Way, leading to the A38 and
1992-575: Is the local secondary school which shares its name with the former grammar school set up by King Edward VI over 450 years ago. At the western edge of the town is the Dartington Hall Estate, which includes the Schumacher College and, until July 2010, included Dartington College of Arts . There are also a number of alternative private schools in the Totnes area, providing primary and secondary education. Local TV coverage
2075-533: Is thought likely to have been tuberculosis. Her former home now forms part of the Regina Hotel in Vaughan Parade. Torquay's name originates in its being the quay of the ancient village of Torre. In turn, Torre takes its name from the tor , the extensively quarried remains of which can be seen by the town's Lymington Road. The original name was thus Torrequay, then Torkay, Torkey and Tor Quay, before
2158-556: The 1948 Summer Olympic Games were held in Torquay, and the Olympic flame brought from London to Torre Abbey Gardens. Although it did not host any Olympic events for the 2012 Summer Olympics , with the sailing taking place in Weymouth , Torbay looked to host teams as a preparation camp and the flame passed through once more on its route around the UK. After World War II several private high-rise blocks of flats were constructed above
2241-685: The 2019 general election , coming second when the seat reverted to the Conservatives. Totnes has been represented by the Greens on Devon County Council since 2009 . Totnes has a mayor who is elected by the sixteen town councillors each year. Follaton House, on the outskirts of the town, is the headquarters of the South Hams District Council. The town is twinned with the French town of Vire , after which Vire Island on
2324-579: The A381 between Newton Abbot and Salcombe . Totnes railway station is situated on the Exeter to Plymouth line , and has trains direct to London Paddington , Plymouth and Penzance , and as far north as Aberdeen . Nearby, Totnes (Riverside) railway station is at the southern end of the South Devon Railway Trust which runs tourist steam locomotives along the line that follows
2407-619: The D-Day landings in June and, in the months leading up to D-Day, thousands of US Army personnel arrived with the 3204th Quartermaster Service Company billeted in Chelston and Cockington . During Operation Overlord more than 23,000 men of the American 4th Infantry Division departed Torquay for Utah Beach . The loading ramps used by the American army are still visible in front of the Regina Hotel on Vaughan Parade. The water sport events of
2490-687: The English Civil War and Oliver Cromwell visited for discussions with the general and parliamentary commander-in-chief Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron in 1646. Until 1887, the Guildhall was also used as the town prison with the addition of prison cells . It remained a magistrates' court until 1974. In 1990, a serious fire broke out on the High Street, resulting in the historic Eastgate structure being destroyed and an estimated £10 million in damage. In 2006 Totnes become
2573-510: The M5 at Exeter . The A3022 branches from the A380, leading into Torquay as Riviera Way, to the seafront as Newton Road and then Avenue Road, and then on to Paignton as Torbay Road. The A379 runs past the harbour to Babbacombe and St Marychurch, and then north along the coast to Teignmouth . Work on constructing a new dual carriageway on the outskirts of Torquay near the Kingskerswell end
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2656-455: The Mercians . The Historia also mentions the town in a prophecy of Merlin : "after [the dragon of Worcester] shall succeed the boar of Totness, and oppress the people with grievous tyranny. Gloucester shall send forth a lion, and shall disturb him in his cruelty, in several battles. He shall trample him under his feet, and terrify him with open jaws." The first authentic history of Totnes
2739-557: The Princess Theatre . A large tethered balloon offering aerial views of the town operated for several years until it was destroyed by strong winds in January 2012. From 1875, a number of potteries operated in Torquay, making Torquay pottery for both the tourist trade and the high-end retail market. Torquay was the home of Suttons Seeds until it relocated to the neighbouring town of Paignton in 1998, and Beverage Brands ,
2822-514: The River Dart up to Buckfastleigh . Bus services are provided by Stagecoach South West, Tally Ho Coaches and County Bus. Totnes also has a town minibus service provided by Bob The Bus. Lomax Tours run coach trips from Totnes. Since the River Dart is navigable to seagoing boats as far as Totnes, the estuary was used for the import and export of goods from the town until 1995. King Edward VI Community College more popularly known as KEVICC,
2905-558: The blind at America Lodge, which was owned by the RNIB for a number of decades. Like many RNIB properties, this was sold off in the 1990s and the building was subdivided into private apartments. In the late 1980s, Fleet Street was rebuilt as the Fleet Walk shopping centre which has street-level shops and an upper-level shopping deck. The long, curved building which follows the street is magnolia-coloured and in mock Victorian style. In
2988-587: The 19th century and are listed buildings, in Torquay are the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Our Lady Help of Christians and St Denis Church . The former St Andrew's Presbyterian church (built in 1862) on Torwood Gardens Road closed in 1951, and after a time as a nightclub, was converted to private residences. There is also a Christadelphian meeting hall in the town. There is also an Islamic centre and mosque. A United Hebrew Congregation synagogue
3071-853: The Marina is the Victorian Pavilion (pictured). The adjacent "Friends Fountain" complements the Victorian architecture. Just to the side of the fountain in Princess Gardens, directly next to Princess Theatre, is the English Riviera Wheel; a 100 foot high wheel that offers a unique birds eye view of the English Riviera, overlooking Torquay Harbour from a rare perspective. Torquay Museum , the oldest in Devon,
3154-539: The Marine Spa was built on Beacon Hill near the harbour. Originally called the "Bath Saloons complex", it had an open air tide-filled swimming bath. The complex was opened in 1853 after Beacon Hill headland was dynamited to make space for it. Charles Dickens was said to have made readings there. During World War I , military hospitals were sited in Torquay – many survivors from the Battle of Gallipoli recuperated in
3237-471: The River Dart near the "Plains" is named. There is also a longstanding local joke that Totnes is twinned with the fantasy land of Narnia . The town is built on a hill rising from the west bank of the River Dart , which separates Totnes from the suburb of Bridgetown . It is at the lowest bridging point of the river which here is tidal and forms a winding estuary down to the sea at Dartmouth . The river continues to be tidal for about 1 mile (1.6 km) above
3320-490: The Rock Walk cliffs and harbour, giving the area a Monte Carlo feel. In 1971, after a tragedy, the Marine Spa was demolished to make way for the ill-fated Coral Island leisure complex. This was characterised by its concrete arches on its uppermost floor and sunbathing decks like those of a cruise liner. The site featured a hexagonal outdoor plunge pool surrounded by sunbathing terraces leading down to Beacon Cove beach. Inside
3403-498: The UK) attracted many visitors who considered the town a convalescence retreat where they could recover from illness away from the cold and cloudy winters of more northerly or easterly locations. The population of Torquay grew rapidly from 838 in 1801, to 24,767 in 1887. The second phase in the expansion of Torquay began when Torre railway station was opened on 18 December 1848. The improved transport connections resulted in rapid growth at
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3486-490: The building were several lounges, a restaurant and a nightclub within the arches of the ancient swimming bath. All levels were served by a hydraulic passenger lift. Coral Island opened in 1977, and closed in 1988. The complex was demolished in 1997, 20 years after its construction. The site remained derelict until 2002 when the Living Coasts coastal zoo was built there. Torquay also boasted rehabilitation facilities for
3569-417: The churches of St Mark and Holy Trinity were closed and in 1979, the vicar of St Matthias's became rector of the parish of St Matthias, St Mark and Holy Trinity. St Saviour's Church and St Michael's Chapel are medieval church buildings, now Anglican. St Saviour's originally had no aisles but a north aisle was added in the 14th century. The tower is at the west end and early medieval in date. Over restoration
3652-415: The coexistence theory. The cave was extensively explored from 1865 to 1880 by William Pengelly , who found evidence to support McEnery's hypothesis. The caves have attracted many famous people, among them Agatha Christie , Beatrix Potter , King George V and Haile Selassie who was so impressed with his visit that he gave his guide, Leslie Powe a gold sovereign. On the seafront between the Rock Walk and
3735-660: The compilation of the Domesday Book in 1086, William the Conqueror granted the burh to Juhel of Totnes , who was probably responsible for the first construction of the castle. Juhel did not retain his lordship for long, however, as he was deprived of his lands in 1088 or 1089, for rebelling against William II. The name Totnes (first recorded in AD 979) comes from the Old English personal name Totta and ness or headland. Before reclamation and development,
3818-442: The expense of nearby towns not on Isambard Kingdom Brunel 's railways. The more central Torquay railway station was opened on 2 August 1859 with views of the sea from the platforms. After the growth of the preceding decades, Torquay was granted borough status in 1892. Torquay Tramways operated electric street trams from 1907. They were initially powered by the unusual Dolter stud-contact electrification so as not to disfigure
3901-592: The fight may have begun near the town, but ended at Plymouth Hoe . The Historia has several other landings at the Totness coast: the Roman general Vespasian , Constantine of Brittany at the port of Totnes, Aurelius Ambrosius and his brother Uther Pendragon attempting to win back the throne of Britain from the usurper Vortigern , the Saxons at war with King Arthur , and in one version Cadwallo fighting against
3984-437: The first transition town of the transition initiative. Permaculture designer Rob Hopkins developed this idea with his students and later with Naresh Giangrande developed the transition model in his home town of Totnes, which has since featured in many articles and films showing this concept. Totnes has adopted an Energy Descent Plan, as a response in answer to the twin problems of greenhouse gas emissions and peak oil . As
4067-649: The first constituency to select the Conservative 's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate through an open primary that was organised by the local Conservative Association . Dr Sarah Wollaston won the Totnes primary in August 2009, and went on to be elected to Parliament at the 2010 general election . In 2019, she moved to Change UK , and then to the Liberal Democrats , for whom she contested Totnes in
4150-514: The first stone bridge was built there was almost certainly a wooden bridge here, and a tidal ford for heavy vehicles was just downstream. In 1982 a new concrete bridge was built about 1,000 feet (300 m) upstream as part of the Totnes inner relief road. Its name, Brutus Bridge, was chosen by the local residents. A further 0.5 miles (0.80 km) upstream, the railway bridge carries the National Rail Exeter to Plymouth line over
4233-585: The island. Set into the pavement of Fore Street is the Brutus Stone , a small granite boulder onto which, according to local legend, Brutus first stepped from his ship. As he did so, he was supposed to have declaimed: Here I stand and here I rest. And this town shall be called Totnes. The stone is far above the highest tides and the tradition is not likely to be of great antiquity, being first mentioned in John Prince 's Worthies of Devon in 1697. It
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#17327978511424316-406: The late 1990s and early 2000s new pubs and night clubs opened around the harbour, leading to an increase in binge drinking; however, in recent years a better police presence and responsible drinks promotions have improved the situation. Areas around Torquay have also been affected by either refurbishments or closure. For instance, the Rock Walk located on the town's seafront was refurbished through
4399-450: The life of Agatha Christie, ancient Egypt , explorers and ecology. Another gallery displays replica historic farmhouse interiors. In 1857, the Bath's Saloons complex was built on the promontory overlooking Beacon Cove. This included a ballroom, concert hall and sunlit conservatory and private bathing facilities with, underneath, a large public swimming bath open to the sea. Living Coasts ,
4482-562: The local board's first projects was to build a town hall on Union Street , which was completed in 1852. In May 1876 the Tormoham Local Board voted to change its name to the Torquay Local Board, acknowledging that Torquay was by then the more commonly-used name for the town; it was said that having a different official name had been causing confusion. In 1892, Torquay was made a municipal borough , governed by
4565-478: The low-lying areas around this hill were largely marsh or tidal wetland, giving the hill much more the appearance of a "ness" than today. By the 12th century, Totnes was already an important market town, due to its position on one of the main roads of the South West, in conjunction with its easy access to its hinterland and the easy navigation of the River Dart. By 1523, according to a tax assessment, Totnes
4648-744: The need to avoid duplicating the exhibits at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth . The project was subsequently taken on by Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and named Living Coasts. It was announced in June 2020 that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was to close permanently. Other attractions are the Babbacombe Model Village , which opened in 1963, the Babbacombe Theatre which opened in 1939 and
4731-408: The neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay and across from the fishing port of Brixham . The town's economy, like Brixham's, was initially based upon fishing and agriculture; however, in the early 19th century, it began to develop into a fashionable seaside resort . Later, as the town's fame spread, it was popular with Victorian society. Renowned for its mild climate, the town earned
4814-493: The newspaper is held at Totnes Archive on the Totnes Museum site. Notable people from Totnes include: Torquay Torquay ( / t ɔːr ˈ k iː / tor- KEE ) is a seaside town in Devon , England, part of the unitary authority area of Torbay . It lies 18 miles (29 km) south of the county town of Exeter and 28 miles (45 km) east-north-east of Plymouth , on the north of Tor Bay , adjoining
4897-473: The nickname the English Riviera . The writer Agatha Christie was born in the town and lived at Ashfield in Torquay during her early years. There is an "Agatha Christie Mile", a tour with plaques dedicated to her life and work. The poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning lived in the town from 1837 to 1841. This was on the recommendation of her doctor in an attempt to cure her of a disease; the disease
4980-511: The owners of the popular and controversial alcoholic brand WKD , was based in the town until 2011. In the early years of British cinema, Torquay was home to two production companies, Cairns Torquay Films and Torquay And Paignton Photoplay Productions, who in 1920, produced a total of three films between them. Recently, Devon Films, based in Torquay, has established itself as the Bay's latest film production company. The Princess Theatre , which
5063-460: The period when Britain was a part of the Roman Empire , leaving offerings at a curious rock formation in Kents Cavern , known as "The Face". The first major building in Torquay was Torre Abbey , a Premonstratensian monastery founded in 1196. Torquay remained a minor settlement until the Napoleonic wars , when Torbay was used as a sheltered anchorage by the Channel Fleet , and relatives of officers often visited Torquay. The mild climate (for
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#17327978511425146-421: The place, and d. Tetbaldus, monk, personally representing all the brothers. a) The Church of S. Mary de Tottenes, with the fees of the priests Hurbertus, Anschitillus, Suuetinus and Ansgotus, the fee of Rodbertus Tornator, and the land beneath the Church, tithes and a dam for a fishery. Also four linen copes , an altar covering, two hangings, one white garment, one silver gilt cross and two wooden ones. For
5229-443: The priest. "Given by Gaufridus dapifer sancto Sergio by his proxy Turgisu, who placed the gift on the altar of S. Mary. Videntibus landrico milite et turgiso monacho et fulcone et harduino et hetdiuo presbitero quin eciam de omnibus emptionibus quas facturus est similiter donum super altare sancte marie portauit". (No seal). At the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Priory and some of its lands were purchased by Walter Smith (d.1555),
5312-502: The river. Immediately upstream of the railway bridge is a footbridge, built in 1993 to provide access to the Totnes (Riverside) terminus of the South Devon Railway . Totnes has attracted a sizeable "alternative" community, and the town is known as a place where one can live a " New Age " lifestyle. There are a number of facilities for artists, painters and musicians, and there is a twice-weekly market offering antiques, musical instruments, second-hand books, handmade clothing from across
5395-951: The salvation of William King of the English, his Queen, sons and daughters; for himself, father and mother and brother Rodbertus. This grant was made to d. Tetbaldus by the key of the monastery, the bell-rope and a knife. Fecit autem hoc donum coram multis bone memorie viris quorum ista sunt nomina: Martinus de Walis; Rogerius senescallus Ausgotus presbyter; Rogerius presbyter; Hubertus presbyter; Anschitillus presbyter; Torgis de la forest; Oddo senescallus; Rodbertus filius David; Godselmus dechinum; Hubertus frater eius; Rodbertus debruelia; Gaufridus senescallus; Garinus dispensator; Radulfus malban; Rodbertus Torneator; Godefredus filius Achardi; Raynaldus; Durandus; Rogerius homo bodini deuer; Herueus Hauenellus; Rodbertus decuria; Anschitillus duxe; Garinus et Gaufridus et raynaldus homines Sancti Sergii et alii multi. b) The priests Hubertus and Anschitillus re-enfeoffed as chaplains of S. Sergius. c) [later addition]". There
5478-638: The town were trading in the "Totnes Pound," accepting them as payment and offering them to shoppers as change from their purchases. The initiative was part of the transition town concept, which was pioneered by Rob Hopkins , who had recently moved to Totnes. The Totnes pound was discontinued in 2019. Emphasising the town's continuing history of boatbuilding, between 1998 and 2001 Pete Goss built his revolutionary but ill-fated 120-foot Team Philips catamaran there, which had to be abandoned mid-Atlantic when it started to break up. Loss of revenue from Dartington College of Arts , which moved to Falmouth in 2010,
5561-414: The town with overhead wires, but in 1911, was converted to more conventional overhead-line supply. The line was extended into Paignton in 1911 but the network was closed in 1934. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution 's Torquay Lifeboat Station was at the Ladies Bathing Cove from 1876 until 1923. A second lifeboat was kept at the harbour from 1917 until 1928. Torquay was regarded as a "Spa Town" after
5644-479: The town – and it was used as a troop staging area. In September 1915, King George V and Queen Mary visited. During World War II Torquay was regarded as safer than the towns of South East England , and played host to evacuees from the London area. The town did, however, suffer minor bomb damage during the war, mainly from planes dumping excess loads after participating in the Plymouth Blitz . The last air raid on Torquay took place on 29 May 1944, shortly before
5727-428: The town, until it meets Totnes Weir , built in the 17th century. Today there are two road bridges, a railway bridge and a footbridge over the river in the town. Totnes Bridge is the nearest bridge to the sea and is a road bridge built in 1826–28 by Charles Fowler. At low tide the foundations of the previous stone bridge are visible just upstream—it was probably built in the early 13th century and widened in 1692. Before
5810-403: The words were joined in Torquay. The area comprising modern Torquay has been inhabited since Paleolithic times. Hand axes found in Kents Cavern have been dated as 40,000 years old, and a maxilla fragment, known as Kents Cavern 4 , may be the oldest example of a modern human in Europe, dating back to 37,000–40,000 years ago. Roman soldiers are known to have visited Torquay during
5893-431: The world, ranging from small communities to whole cities (e.g. Berlin ). Totnes hosts the Sea Change Festival that has been running in the town and neighbouring Dartington since 2016. Totnes' borough charter was granted by King John , probably around 1206; at any rate, the 800th anniversary of the charter was celebrated in 2006, although Totnes lost its borough status in local government reorganisation in 1974. Totnes
5976-555: The world, and local organically produced products. In 2007, Time magazine declared Totnes the capital of new age chic. In 2005, Highlife , the British Airways magazine, declared it one of the world's Top 10 Funky Towns. In March 2007 Totnes was the first town in Britain to introduce its own local alternative currency, the Totnes pound , to support the local economy of the town. Fourteen months later, 70 businesses within
6059-454: Was built at Castle Circus. In 1968 the borough of Torquay, the urban districts of Paignton and Brixham, and the parish of Churston Ferrers were all abolished. A county borough called Torbay was created to cover the whole area (with some adjustments of the boundaries to neighbouring parishes at the same time). As a county borough, Torbay was administratively independent from Devon County Council . Six years later, in 1974, local government
6142-869: Was carried out both on the exterior and interior in 1849. The monuments include one in early Tudor style to Thomas Cary (d. 1567) and another to Thomas Ridgeway (d. 1604) which includes an alabaster effigy. The Chapel of St Michael is only 36 by 15 ft and its floor is the uneven surface of the rock on which it stands. The roof has a barrel vault and the windows are small. The 19th-century Anglican churches of Torquay include All Saints, Bamfylde Road (1884–90, architect John Loughborough Pearson ), St John's, Montpelier Terrace (1861–71, architect George Edmund Street ), St Luke's (1863, architect Sir Arthur Blomfield ), St Mark's, St Mark's Road (1856–57, architect Anthony Salvin ), St Mary Magdalene, Union Street (1846, architect Anthony Salvin), and St Michael, Pimlico (1877, architect Pritchard). Two Roman Catholic churches, both built in
6225-424: Was closed in 2000, and the congregation dissolved. Torquay has numerous tourist attractions, including Kents Cavern, Britain's most important Stone Age site, which was home to early humans for some 40,000 years. The floor is composed of several strata, with remains indicating the prehistoric coexistence there of humans and extinct animals. The Rev. J. McEnery explored the cave between 1825 and 1829, and put forth
6308-552: Was completed in 2015 with a new junction between the A380 South Devon Highway and Torbay Ring Road. The main bus operator in Torquay is Stagecoach South West . Its service 12 passes through Torquay – between Newton Abbot and Brixham, – while many other routes operate within the town. From 1919 to 1996 Devon General ran buses in Torquay. From 23 May 1965, introduction of the one-way traffic scheme required buses from Paignton to divert via Abbey Road. For
6391-620: Was followed by the absorption of the former borough of St Marychurch . In this period St Marychurch covered Plainmoor, Watcombe, Babbacombe and Kingskerswell . Wellswood and the Lincombes were built up by wealthy Victorians who, influenced by their travels around the Mediterranean , built large villas with Italianate features and towers. There are many pine trees, Bay bushes and trees ( Laurus nobilis ), various palm tree species and Phormiums . Cabbage trees or "Torbay Palms" are
6474-571: Was founded in 1844, by The Torquay Natural History Society. The museum contains extensive geology, natural science, archaeology and ethnography collections of international importance, including the oldest fossil evidence of modern man in north-west Europe. The story of the English Riviera Geopark is told through exhibitions about geology, fossils and archaeology including artefacts from Kents Cavern and other local archaeology. The museum has galleries dedicated to diverse topics such as
6557-434: Was in its own eponymous constituency . The constituency elects one Member of Parliament, since 2024 Steve Darling of the Liberal Democrats . Torquay is situated on the southwestern coast of England, forming one-third of Torbay, on the western side of the bay. It has a mild microclimate , with winters that tend to be mild and wet. A record high temperature of 31.5C was recorded on 14 July 2013, at 5:30 p.m. The town
6640-443: Was partially offset by increased tourism due to interest in Totnes's status as a transition town . Totnes is said to have more listed buildings per head than any other town. The Norman motte-and-bailey Totnes Castle , now owned by English Heritage , was built during the reign of William I , probably by Juhel of Totnes . The late medieval church of St Mary with its 120 feet (37 m) high west tower, visible from afar,
6723-520: Was reformed again, with Torbay becoming a non-metropolitan district and Devon County Council providing county-level services to the area again. Torbay regained its independence from the county council in 1998 when it was made a unitary authority. Torbay remains part of the ceremonial county of Devon for the purposes of lieutenancy . Torquay (along with part of Paignton) is in the Torbay parliamentary constituency , created in 1974; previous to that, it
6806-461: Was served by Totnes electoral borough from 1295 until the reform act of 1867, but was restored by the 1884 Franchise Act. The constituency of Totnes was abolished a second time in 1983, and formed part of the South Hams constituency until 1997, when it was restored as the Totnes county constituency : as such it returns one Member of Parliament (MP) to Parliament. In August 2009, Totnes became
6889-461: Was the second-richest town in Devon, and the sixteenth-richest in England, ahead of Worcester , Gloucester and Lincoln . In 1553, King Edward VI granted Totnes a charter allowing a former Benedictine priory building that had been founded in 1088 to be used as Totnes Guildhall and a school. In 1624, the Guildhall was converted to be a magistrates' court . Soldiers were billeted here during
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