Historic Houses & Gardens near Torquay

A Holiday Apartment in Torquay is a great base from which to visit historic houses and gardens

South Devon has some fabulous historic houses and gardens that are open pretty much all year round. Listed below are some of those that are near at hand and can be accessed easily from our self catering holiday apartments in Torquay.

Our Muntham Apartments and Town House are located in the Wellswood area of Torquay and provide a superb base from which to explore The English Riviera and beyond. Our Bedford House Apartments are in the centre of Torquay and just a few minutes' walk from the harbour and town centre. They are also just seconds from key bus routes. Our Hesketh Crescent Apartment is in the leafy Meadfoot area of Torquay close to the sea. It is also a super base from which to explore.

Torre Abbey

With a history stretching back more than 800 years the Abbey can claim to be one of the oldest buildings in the entire area and certainly Torquay's most historic property. It started life as a religious community until Henry VIII's dissolution programme resulted in its forced closure.

It played host to prisoners from the Spanish Armada and was a family home until 1930 when it finally became a museum and home to the municipal art collection. Amongst its famous visitors was Horatio Nelson. Today,  Torre Abbey is open to the public as are its fabulous walled gardens with their arid house and palm house.

Greenway

This was the holiday home that Agatha Christie bought on the banks of The River Dart  in 1938. The house originated in Tudor times having been built by the Gilbert family but is substantially a Georgian property.

Now in the hands of The National Trust, the house and its gardens and grounds are open to the public seven days a week for most of the year and is about twenty minutes by car from Torquay.

Coleton Fishacre

This is another historic property  owned by The National Trust and was the home of the D'Oyly Carte family who operated the Savoy Theatre in London. Coleton Fishacre has an  Art Deco interior and spectacular cliff top garden this property has appeal throughout the year. This house is best reached by car and lies between Brixham and Dartmouth. Journey time is around twenty five minutes from Torquay.

Berry Pomeroy Castle

Berry Pomeroy Castle is set deep in the countryside outside Torquay and Paignton. It sits on a rocky outcrop and was originally home to the Pomeroy family who needed an easily defended home in the troubled years leading up to the Wars of the Roses. In later years it passed into the Seymour family's hands one of whose family members was Jane Seymour, wife of Henry VIII and mother of Edward VI.

There were massive building programmes in both the Tudor periods and the later Jacobite periods and the home that was created was astoundingly beautiful and beyond anything else that had been built in the south west of England. The fortunes of the Pomeroys very much declined but the Seymours were adroit at steering their way through difficult times and still own the property today.

At the start of the 1700's they stripped the property of anything they could use elsewhere and it was allowed to fall into ruin. Today, glimpses of the stunning palace that had been built on the site are still evident at a castle reputed to be the most haunted in England. The castle is managed by English Heritage.

Compton Castle

Home to the Gilbert family since 1329, the castle is now under the care of The National Trust. The castle had some famous occupants including sir Huphrey Gilbert who was one of Elizabeth I's "sea dogs" and is credited with the discovery of Newfoundland.

check availability and rates and book one of our self catering holiday apartments in Torquay for your perfect base when exploring historic houses and gardens

To check availability and prices and to book any of our self catering holiday apartments in Torquay, please click on the link below. Don't forget that you get the best rates by booking direct - up to 20% cheaper than the rates of the online booking agents and no additional booking fees.

Or, call us on 01803 292958 or 0791 905 1066

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