Torre Abbey was founded in 1196 it began life as an Abbey and later became the home of the wealthy Cary family.
Now a museum it has been recently renovated with great sensitivity.
The entrance gives a taste of what lays beyond. On the walls of the corridor are the faint lines of paintings dated around 1230.
Arched doors lead to large cellars lit by arched windows. These rooms were used as storage rooms by the monks.
This is close to the entrance..interestingly called a lavabo. From here, under the running water, monks could wash their hands before eating.
A lift to the top floor leads to a large hall where an exhibition shows the history of Torre Abbey and the Torbay area.
Torbay is a bay containing three small towns Torquay, Paignton and Brixham….which have had a surprising impact on the history of Britain.
This wall shows some of the events and history, over time, that have seen Torbay play such a key part in history …. 
In 1588, a Spanish galleon the Nuestra Sentra del Rosario from the Armada collided with another Spanish ship and was left stranded ……the 397 Spanish seamen from the ship were kept in the large barn, now called the Spanish Barn, before being sent to prisons elsewhere.
In 1688 William of Orange landed in Brixham. From there he and an army of men went on to London where William successfully claimed the throne.
In 1815 Napoleon was in the bay off Brixham on the ship Bellerophon. He had been attempting to escape to America. Locals rowed out to try to get a look at this famous general and his ship was surrounded by them.
Above a staircase is the charming Pre-Raphaelite painting by Holman Hunt ..The Children’s Holiday 1864.
Further Pre-Raphaelite paintings by Burne-Jones can be seen in the Burne- Jones gallery.
And there are art galleries displaying sea and country scenes from a variety of painters and sculptures, notably Thrup..
The diagram and model show the Abbey as it was.. the gatehouse was built in 1379.
Outside are the rather lovely gardens, tropical greenhouse and the ruins of the church destroyed on the orders of Henry Eighth…1539.
This small flight of stairs, outside the Abbey walls was used by men to mount their horses.
Keep your eyes open for other interesting things..this prayer book, for example, issued in 1642 and the chalice 1660, plain because Cromwell disapproved of decoration.
There are nooks and crannies to explore in this enchanting building.
Torre Abbey is a most interesting place..a must for historical buffs and interested visitors.
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