Nostalgic memories of Torquay's local history
Share your own memories of Torquay and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 11 - 19 of 19 in total
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 ...see more
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'.
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.
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.
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.
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 ...see more
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 ...see more
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 ...see more
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 ...see more
