Torbay & Wars

Wars often have effects which are much more subtle and indirect than the horrors of large numbers of deaths in battle. In 1789, the French Revolution began. This led to the execution of the French king and queen and soon afterwards to war with Britain and other European countries horrified by the fate of the French monarchs.

British Royalty and wealthy people would not be welcome where before they had gone on a kind of long holiday. In fact, for most of the twenty years before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Britain was at war with France. This came to be known as the Napoleonic War. Now royalty and the wealthy had to find somewhere at home to stay, especially during the winter months when before they had gone to the warmth of the south of France or Italy. One of the areas people considered was Torbay and the small village of Torquay.

The Channel Fleet of the Royal Navy was stationed in Torbay for extended periods during this war. As a result the wives of naval officers came to stay to be near their husbands. They found the climate to be mild and pleasant, especially in the winter, and also enjoyed the wonderful coastal scenery. Word spread and Torquay began to develop as a resort for the wealthy, at first mainly in the winter. A further boost for Torquay came in 1815 when Napoleon, the defeated French leader, was briefly held prisoner on a ship in Torbay. People came many miles to catch a glimpse of him.