Queen Emma of Honolulu in Torquay

In Search of Old Torquay - Ehrenberg Hall

On this site stood Ehrenberg Hall, later the Rosetor Hotel, and the home of Angela Burdett-Coutts from 1862-77. She was the richest heiress in England and a great philanthropist. Many distinguished people stayed here including Queen Emma of Honolulu in 1865, and the Queen of Holland in 1870. In the Second World War it was used by the RAF as a training centre.

Rosetor was demolished in 1979 and the Riviera Centre was built. Tonight we went to a Viennese Gala concert here by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Strauss's Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka Opus 214 has been going round my head ever since, and thankfully has relaced Diamonds in the Sky by Rihanna. It is a good hall but a concrete monstrosity.