Westward Ho! In Search of Old Torquay

Spent an enlightening morning at a plaque unveiling at the Coombe Court Hotel on Babbacombe Downs. Charles Kingsley stayed here during 1854 after he left Livermead House, where he has another plaque. He was in residence here for only a few weeks, visiting Torquay like many other famous and influential people of the time. He was born at Holne Vicarage, on the edge of Dartmoor on 12 June 1819.

The event in this lovely cosy hotel was open to anyone, and the owners generously laid on a spread of food and drink which was a testament to the standard of hospitality and quality of the hotel. Charles would have waxed lyrical as he did about Torquay.

'No wonder such a spot as Torquay with its delicious Italian climate, and endless variety of rich woodland, flowery lawn, fantastic rock cavern, and broad bright tide-sand, sheltered from every wind of heaven except the soft south-east, should have become a favourite haunt not only for invalids, but for naturalists. Indeed it may well claim the honour of being the original home of marine zoology and botany in England.