Torquay memories
Here are memories of Torquay and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Torquay or a Torquay photo.
Shrublands Maternity Home
Re Shrublands my son was born there in September 1958 when it was in a large house in Morgan Avenue just up from Castle Circus. The house is still there but it is now a drug rehabilitation centre.
Loving Memories of A Loving Mother
Two ladies wearing hats.. the lady on the left could have been my mother.. but perhaps not. I remember my mother dressed similar... she brought our family through the war years 1939-1945... She is for ever loved.
Beach
I was born in Torquay in June 1954 in Shrublands Hospital (can anybody remember that hospital, it was in the Warberrys).
I left Torquay when I was 23 and came to live in London, my heart is still there. Who knows, I might retire back there.
But the town has changed so much. I spent a lot of time down the beach, I see they have knocked down the sheds - there was a cafe there and toilets, yes it looks bare now.
Clog Morris Dancing at Torquay Harbour on an August Evening
This view of the harbour taken in 1888 has by chance captured dead centre the very spot where 120 years later the dancers and musicians of Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers turned out to entertain crowds of holiday makers one warm summer evening.
We gathered as dusk was falling at 8pm and the fairy lights and illuminations were twinkling all around the harbour. Our band struck up some catchy jigs and polkas on our accordians, melodians and drums and the dancers entertained the crowds who stood all round us snapping away with their cameras and with their children trying to join in! We provided a dozen dances over about an hour and wound up with a huge dance for the audience to join in.
By this time it was dark but a lovely atmosphere with the high tide bobbing the boats around next to us, and all the illuminations shining brightly. The promenade around the harbour is a pedestrian area made of brick pavers and wonderful... Read more
Them Were The Days
My family (Isaac..Reg, Lilian, June, Pat, aunty Mary, uncle Denny, and cousins Andrew and Mark and Grandad Isaac) used to holiday in this hotel each year from about 1968 to 1975. I have some wonderful childhood memories of Astwell Hall and can remember a lady called Miss Cotton ran the hotel in the early days before a gent called Mr Lane took over. I can also recall a dog called Rufus! Being a YMCA hotel they were always organising money making schemes for charity which included football matches on Abbey meadows. A concert was held every Thursday and us kids always did a turn. I distinctly remember one year early on when we sang the 'so long, farewell' song from the sound of music which the 'Mcdonald' family from Scotland played a big part...the name Sheena rings a bell. In about 1973 or 4 a porter named Michael or Mick impersonated Mick Jagger and sang 'Brown Sugar' on the stage. It was great fun on dance night when we danced... Read more
Heather And Gorse Clog Dancers Perform For The Grand Hotel in Torquay
The front of the Grand Hotel as shown in this view from 1912 is remarkably like the hotel now, in 2008. Its only when the dancers and musicians of Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers went inside that we found a huge sun lounge, a wide terrace overlooking swimming pools and a fountain that are modern additions!
The Grand Hotel and local radio station, Gemini, had organised a fund raising day for local charities under the hotel's banner of an "Easter Eggstravaganza" and we were part of the entertainment programme. This was Easter Saturday - the earliest Easter for almost 100 years and believe me the weather reminded us! We danced on the wide terrace and most of our audience watched through windows from the warmth of the hotel's sun lounge! A few hardier souls ventured outside and sat under parasols to protect themselves from the occasional flurries of sleet and fine snow! It was a truly cold day but the hotel did provide us with a barbeque lunch... Read more
A Close Call
In 1941, during the Second World War, and I was a page boy working at the Osborne Hotel. I always rode my cycle to work and back. I believe it was on a Sunday that I was pushing my cycle up the lane at the side of the Palace Hotel, I stopped when I heard the roar of planes and cannon shells being fired at the hotel. A huge explosion followed as a bomb hit the hotel. I think I broke the world record as I ran back the way I had come from. That day many RAF personel died in this attack from German fighter bombers. How lucky I was to be so close to the attack and not get hurt. Oh yes, my cycle was a casualty as the blast broke one side of my handlebar and meant I had to walk home.
I Love it
Torquay has an unjustified reputation of being a 'dump'.
I visited this town for the day during a holiday in nearby Dartmouth.
True, one day can't be enough to make a proper judgement but I really liked Torquay and wondered why people do consider it to be a 'dump'.
Local Bakery
Hello. My name is Sheila and I often search the webb for things in reference to Torquay, Devon. My mother lived there for a short while in 1946 where she met my father, his name was John and he was in the navy. He was helping out at a local bakery delivering bread, when he met my mother, Frances. She lived almost opposite Torr Station which now has another use. She was in a domestic post for two elderly teachers who worked at the local college. I would love to hear anything of interest about any thing connected to what I have already written. I was born early 1947.
Memories of Devon
Clog Morris Dancing at The Babbacombe Festival
A week long programme of events for the Babbacombe Festival included a display of clog morris by the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers from nearby Combeinteignhead, accompanied by a large band of four squeezeboxes and percussion.
The dancers performed in the evening at the Precinct close to the Dolphin pub. It didn't take long before a crowd gathered to watch including drinkers from the pub who brought their beers outside to sit on the benches and watch. There was an hour long display of dancing which the onlookers regularly applauded!
Great fun, nice people and lovely weather for dancing - not too hot, just a gentle fresh breeze to keep both dancers and musicians cool on this summer evening. A lovely memory!
St Marychurch's "Party in The Precinct"
I was really surprised at how busy and popular this community event was. I went along with my wife, Elizabeth, who is a dancer with the Heather and Gorse Clog Morris Dancers. The team had been invited to perform outside the Dolphin pub half way along St Marychurch precinct.
We were booked to dance at 3 o'clock and the organisers of the event were ready for us and "coned off" a square of pavement so the dancers had space. I took along my accordian and helped with the music up on the nearby stage. The dancers looked splendid in their blue and white kit plus shiney black clogs. We provided a medley of jigs and polka tunes for more than half an hour finishing up with an audience paprticipation dance which went down well with the watching crowds!
This was a really well organised event and I hope it will be repeated as it was fun.
THE HOME THAT NEVER WAS
A St Marychurch lad I lived in Hampton Farm Cottage, Hampton Farm, Hampton Lane, St Marychurch, Torquay, Devon. I had been away from Torquay for several years - Army Service, etc....... but did eventually return to find that a BY PASS had been cut through the Farm area and there it was in front of me... the road by passing St Marychurch.... but no Farm and no House... not a trace... except for perhaps an end piece of old timber in the wall at the back of the MODEL VILLAGE (where the allotments used to be)... so... if you remember the building of this By Pass and witnessed the destruction of the House and Farm or perhaps even knew me, I would welcome your comments....... thank you for your kindness... Freddie.
Heather And Gorse Clog Dancers in Teignmouth Triangle
There is a beautiful wide paved area at Teignmouth Triangle which is a natural focal point to meet people and maybe sit and chat on one of the many benches nearby. This was the venue chosen by the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers to put on a display of clog morris dancing along with their band of accordians and melodeons.
The dancers kit of blue dresses black waistcoats and dancing clogs attracted the attention of passers by and there was soon a gathering of interested spectators. This was my very first opportunity to play my accordian for Heather and Gorse and it was a magical morning as dancers, musicians and spectators all seemed so friendly - even the sun shone warmly on this November day and I was able to play my accordian in just shirt sleeves!
St Mary Chuch
I live in the USA, but my home was St Marychurch, a special place run by Catholic nuns during World War 2. I was barely two years old, and I was brought there with my five-year-old sister by my aunt, because my father was killed in action in a Lancaster bomber plane when returning back to England after a raid on Germany. My mother could not take care of us as she had a breakdown. We spent ten years at Marychurch with the refugees and even though I did not know the full consequence of war I can remember the siren and being lifted out of my bed by women in black and white hoods - the nuns. These Catholic nuns fed me, dressed me, and comforted me when I cried. I think of their caring hands when I was sick.
When I was old enough to attend the Catholic school with children that came from outside they called us "Indoor kids" and we called them "Day kids". I return... Read more
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,909 memories of 5,955 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Taunton, Somerset
- Bath, Avon
- Maidenhead, Berkshire
- Ilfracombe, Devon
- Oswestry, Shropshire
- Kempsey, Worcestershire
- Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire
- Lumphinnans, Fife
- Bridge Of Gairn, Aberdeenshire
- Golders Green, Greater London
- Croydon, Surrey
- Eamont Bridge, Cumbria
- Bexleyheath, Kent
- Chedworth, Gloucestershire
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
- Thurstaston, Merseyside
- Fyfield, Essex
- Fleetwood, Lancashire
- Stadhampton, Oxfordshire
- Severn Beach, Avon
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
