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Torquay and Paignton, Devon: 1890s/1900

 


Old photo of the view of Torquay and Paignton, taken sometime between 1890 and 1905. From the archives of the Detroit Publishing Company Photograph Collection at the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.


At the end of the 1890s, Torquay was basking in its "Golden Age." It was calling itself the richest town in England, serving as the ultimate high-society winter resort. By 1899, the town had successfully transitioned from a gritty working port into a polished, palm-lined "Mediterranean" paradise.


Here is what Torquay looked like as it prepared to enter the 20th century:

1. The Reclaiming of the Seafront

The most dramatic physical change of the decade happened in 1895.

  • Princess Pier & Gardens: The town completed a massive land reclamation project. They filled in a large section of the harbor to create Princess Gardens and the Princess Pier.

  • The Look: This gave the town the elegant, wide-open promenade that it is still famous for today. It moved the "social center" of the harbor away from the coal yards and closer to the water.

2. A "Winter" Resort for the Elite

In the 1890s, Torquay was actually busier in the winter than the summer.

  • The Climate: The wealthy moved here from October to May to escape the deadly London smog.

  • Social Status: The town was often called the "Belgravia of the West." The hills of the Warberries and Lincombes were packed with over 600 grand villas, each staffed by an army of domestic servants.

  • Royal Charter: In 1892, Torquay was officially granted a Royal Charter, giving it new powers of self-government and the motto Salus et Felicitas (Health and Happiness).

3. The "Two Worlds" Economy

While the hills were filled with mansions, the town center was a hive of working-class industry.

  • The Hidden Poor: Just behind the grand hotels were narrow, overcrowded streets like Pimlico and Swan Street. While the wealthy enjoyed the "pure air," the working class dealt with high-density housing and the daily labor of supporting the resort’s luxury needs.

  • Retail Giants: The 1890s saw the rise of grand department stores along The Strand and Union Street, catering to the sophisticated tastes of international visitors.

4. Transport: The Bicycle Craze

While horses still ruled the roads, the late 1890s was the era of the bicycle craze.

  • The Cycle Track: A dedicated cycle track was added near the seafront, and "penny farthings" were a common sight.

  • The Railway: The Great Western Railway was bringing in more visitors than ever, and for the first time, the town began to see "day trippers"—working-class people from nearby cities taking advantage of cheap excursion fares.

5. Cultivating the "Riviera" Identity

The term "English Riviera" was firmly established by the late 1890s.

  • The Vegetation: This was the decade when the New Zealand Cabbage Palm (the "Torquay Palm") was planted en masse to prove how mild the climate was.

  • The Rock Walk: The base of Waldon Hill was painstakingly transformed into the Royal Terrace Gardens, with paths carved directly into the cliff to allow visitors to stroll through "sub-tropical" greenery.

Torquay 1899: Fact Summary

FeatureThe Late 1890s Reality
Town StatusOfficially the "Richest Town in England" (per capita).
New LandmarkPrincess Pier and Gardens (Completed 1895).
PopularityPeak of the "Winter Season" for the aristocracy.
InfrastructureLarge-scale culverting of the River Fleet to improve sanitation.

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Location: Torquay, UK

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