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 Brewer, lord of the manor of Torre, gave them the land. By 1536 it had an annual income of £396, making it the wealthiest of all the Premonstratensian houses in England ["Valor Ecclesiasticus", ii, p. 362] .

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 church and east range, and all items of value, including the lead from the roofs, were taken. The south and west ranges were mostly unscathed and, in 1598, were 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.

Buildings

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, formerly the guest hall, dates from the 15th century. The tithe barn, built along with the abbey in the early thirteenth century, 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.

Contents and displays

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.

Haunting

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 0-312-24557-2), sees the detective investigating ghosts in the buildings after being called in by Lord Charles Cary.

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