Early Closing: Our Garden will now close at 4:00 PM in line with our winter schedule, due to shorter daylight hours. Thank you for your understanding.

Winter timings:

Torre Abbey New Beginnings

Torre Abbey New Beginnings: Chapter One

Torre Abbey is Torbay’s most historic building complex dating from 1196. An ancient scheduled monument set within 18 acres of gardens and parkland. It’s an accredited museum owned by Torbay Council, home to an important collection it’s been a centre of religious and artistic expression and hospitality for 800 years. 

 

What is Chapter One?

New Beginnings: Chapter One marks the start of an ambitious two-part project to reset Torre Abbey in its landscape. Our goal is to make the entire site more accessible, sustainable, and financially secure so it can be enjoyed for generations to come.

We will reconnect people with the abbey’s rich heritage through creative interpretation of its hidden archaeology and open up Torquay’s largest green space, enhancing wildlife habitats and biodiversity, and making the site more resilient to climate change.

 

What’s Happening?

Chapter One focuses on the Spanish Barn, the former Pitch and Putt, the South Lawn, and the ground immediately around the Spanish Barn. These improvements will allow year-round use, better community access, and essential conservation of the Grade I listed building.

Development Phase (2025–2026)

  • Carry out essential surveys
  • Secure permissions and consents
  • Engage with stakeholders
  • Create an Activity Plan
  • Share project aims and acknowledge funding
  • Develop a fundraising strategy for the next phase
  • Appoint a Design Team
  • Complete technical design to RIBA Stage 3
  • Evaluate and prepare for delivery

Delivery Phase (2026–2028)

  • Conserve, repair, and upgrade the Spanish Barn
  • Landscape and interpret the former Pitch and Putt area
  • Create community events and provision of wellbeing spaces
  • Deliver the Activity Plan
  • Commission a Conservation Management Plan
  • Evaluate progress

 

The Abbey will remain open throughout both phases, so you can continue to enjoy this incredible site while we make these necessary changes.

 

Made Possible by You

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.

Torre Abbey New Beginnings Chapter One is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to undertake the Development Phase of Torre Abbey New Beginnings Chapter One and explore the exciting possibilities for Torre Abbey’s future.