Restoring the heart of Torbay’s Heritage

The grand doors of Torre Abbey have now closed until mid 2008 while the first phase of an extensive £6.5 million make-over is completed.

The restoration follows a grant of £4.9 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as contributions from Torbay Council, English Heritage and the Friends of Torre Abbey.

Follow the Abbey’s Progress

We want Torbay residents and visitors alike to be part of this exciting development so please take a look at the diary entries from Dr Michael Rhodes, Head of Museum Services.  You can also visit the on-line picture library, and visit the information centre in the Spanish Barn (summer opening only).

Torre Abbey is a major building on a large site.  It has a floor area of nearly 600 square metres, divided into 122 rooms, on twenty levels with 256 individual steps.

We have now started the first of three phases of an ambitious restoration scheme that will completely renovate the Abbey and gardens and make the building suitable for people with disabilities.  In the next ten years, we will transform Torre Abbey into one of the South-West’s most unusual and exciting heritage attractions.

During Phase I (2006 - 2008), we will install a host of new improvements, including a new entrance, new ticketing and reception areas, lifts and ramps.  

An imaginative reorganisation of the entrance will resolve the many problems of physical access, and will create a stunning new cloister garden, that will be a central feature of both the house and garden.

Torre Abbey Gardens

It is a Heritage Lottery Fund requirement that we should implement a strategy for developing the gardens in sympathy with the house and Abbey buildings.

Most of this work will have to wait until Phase III, but Phase I does include the construction of the new cloister garden.

Torbay Council is delighted that Four Seasons has agreed to run an education facility and will oversee the renovation of the gardens.  The students will gain an opportunity for valuable learning experiences and the council will be able to maximise the improvements to the garden within the limited funding available.

Visitor Centre

The visitor centre will be open in the Spanish Barn Mondays to Saturdays until the end of August, then Mondays to Fridays until the end of September 2007.  Opening times are 9.30am until 12.30pm and 1.30pm until 5pm with a member of staff on hand to answer questions.

Related Documents

Torre Abbey Acquisition and Disposal Policy

Torre Abbey Catalogue of the Art Collections

Torre Abbey Fundraising Brochure

Torre Abbey Souvenir Guide

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