Torbay Council

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Paignton History

1166

The Kirkham family owned the ‘sub-manor’ of Blagdon for several Centuries. By the 16th Century their ownership of land had extended to Paignton as well.

1549

The Palace of the Bishops of Exeter, owned by the Church since the Norman Conquest, was surrendered to the Crown during the Reformation. The Bishop’s Tower still stands and is popularly known as Coverdale Tower in the mistaken belief that the bible was translated there by onetime Bishop of Exeter - Miles Coverdale.

1800

A naval hospital was built at Goodrington Park to care for casualties of the Napoleonic Wars.

1859

To commemorate the completion of the railway to Paignton, a giant pudding weighing over a ton was baked and a dinner held on Paignton Green. A crowd of 18,000 people gathered and fights broke out as people tried to obtain a piece of ‘The Paignton Pudding‘.

1874

‘The Wigwam’ was built at Oldway for Isaac Merritt Singer (of sewing machine fame). By 1907 the mansion had been transformed by Isaac's son, Paris, who made major structural alterations and incorporated French and Italian designs into the building. Oldway Mansion was bought by Paignton UDC in 1946 and now houses offices of Torbay Council and is also a popular marriage venue.

1879

The world premier of Gilbert & Sullivan's ‘Pirates of Penzance’ was held at the Royal Bijou Theatre to an audience of just 70 people!

1914

The Paignton Picture House opened in Torbay Road. It was later known as Torbay Cinema and vaunted as the oldest cinema in Western Europe when it closed in 1999.

1923

Herbert Whitley – the founder of Paignton Zoo – opened his own Zoological Gardens at Primley. During the Second World War ‘evacuees’ arrived from Chessington Zoo!

1967

Entertainment previously presented at the ‘tent’ on Paignton Green was transferred to the newly-built Festival Theatre (converted into the Apollo Cinema in 1999).

1972

Brunel’s Paignton-Kingswear line, having been closed by British Rail, was taken over by steam enthusiasts. It is now operated by the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway.

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