Torre Abbey
Torre Abbey comprises two Grade I
listed buildings in
Torquay. It was founded in 1196 as a
monastery for
premonstratensian canons when
William de Brewer, lord of the manor of Torre, gave them the land. It soon became the wealthiest in
England.
The monks surrendered to
King Henry VIII's commissioner in 1539 during the
Dissolution of the Monasteries. This resulted in a widescale demolition of the buildings, and all items of value, including the lead from the roof, were taken. The medieval
cloister was mostly unscathed and, in 1598, was converted into a house for Thomas Ridgeway. After a succession of various owners, the house became the possession of the Cary family in 1662. It stayed in the family until 1930 when financial difficulties forced Commander Henry Cary to sell it to Torquay Borough Council. It has since been used as a municipal art gallery, the mayor's parlour and, during
World War II, it was used by the
Royal Air Force.
The Torre Abbey chapel is sometimes used for public ceremonies such as
funerals and
christenings, though it does not have a wedding license.
|
The Spanish Barn was used to hold 397 prisoners from the Spanish Armada, as described in the plaque above the door (image). |
The main abbey comprises two Grade I listed buildings. Though the
church is little more than a ruin, the west and south sides of the cloisters are still standing. The gatehouse dates from around 1380, and the
barrel vault above the chapel dates from the
15th century. The
tithe barn, built along with the abbey in 1196, is known as "The Spanish Barn" after it was used to hold 397
prisoners of war from the
Spanish Armada in 1588.
Reconstruction and restoration
Around 1740 the buildings underwent extensive alterations, giving them a
Georgian remodelling that is mostly intact today. The Cary family invested in further reconstructions throughout the
19th century, including the construction of a small
brewery.
The abbey was closed on
April 18 2006. Funded by the
Heritage Lottery Fund, the abbey is undergoing further restoration and is scheduled to reopen in summer 2008.
Torre Abbey contains many collections of historic artifacts, including 18th and 19th century English glass, silver and pewter. One room is fitted out as an approximation of the study of
Agatha Christie, the famed novelist that lived much of her life in Torquay.
As with many historic buildings, there have been various reports and alleged sightings of three
ghosts inside Torre Abbey – a headless monk, an 18th century lady and a
Spanish lady searching for her long-lost love.
The Haunting of Torre Abbey by
Carole Bugge, a 2000 novel featuring
Sherlock Holmes (ISBN 0312245572), sees the detective investigating ghosts in the buildings after being called in by Lord Charles Cary.
*
Torre Abbey Historic House & Gallery (official site). Accessed
31 August 2005.
*
Torre Abbey at Torquay.com. Accessed
31 August 2005.
