HOME

A Short Description of Torre Abbey

A Short Description of Torre Abbey

Author(s):

Genre(s): , , ,

Narrators:

Number of Chapters: 10

Length: 01 hour and 39 minutes

Language: English

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the time of Henry VIII, a significant part of the buildings of Torre Abbey, particularly the church area, lay in ruins. Then, during the 17th century and subsequently, surviving parts of the abbey were incorporated into the creation of a grand private residence, the owner of which in the early part of the 20th century was Colonel Lucius Cary. With the permission of the colonel, Hugh Watkin, who at that time was living in the Chelston district of Torquay, fairly close to the abbey, undertook certain excavations of the remaining ruins between the years of 1906 and 1911. Until he made his excavations the ruins had not been thoroughly investigated. This book sets forth his findings and conclusions, and is the last of the three editions published, being dated July, 1912. Much more archaeological work has been carried out since the author's day, and further important discoveries made relating to the abbey's history. Torre Abbey passed into the ownership of the local council in 1930. Today, the house, which is now an art gallery and museum, ruins and beautiful gardens are open to the public, and many events, including weddings and exhibitions, take place in the house and grounds every year. It is a Grade 1 listed building. - Summary by Garth Burton

Listening:
Continue to listen:    
Preface and Introduction. (Garth Burton)
The Entrance. The Two Missing Gate-houses. The Moat, Conduit and Drain. The West Front. The Cemetery. (Garth Burton)
The Church. Nave and Aisle. (Garth Burton)
The Church Tower. The Chancel. The North Transept. (Garth Burton)
The South Transept. Relics in Stone, the Mill Garden. Sacristy, Muniment Room and Chapter-house. (Garth Burton)
The Garth. The Cloister. The Locutorium or Calefactory. The Refectory Sub-vault. The Cellarer's Store. (Garth Burton)
The South-West Corner of the Garth. The Volta. Sub-vault of Guest Hall. West Side of Garth. (Garth Burton)
The Entrance to the Garth. The Abbat's Tower. The Modern Chapel. (Garth Burton)
The Mohun Gatehouse. The Fawden. (Garth Burton)
The Norman Aula. The Infirmary. The Barn. Encaustic Tiles. (Garth Burton)
The audiobook A Short Description of Torre Abbey falls under the genres of , , , . It is written by .