Watering Places on the Exe and Dart

Things to Consider           Teachers Notes

This delightful and romantic bathing place is situated on a cove, about two miles from the extreme point of the promontory, called Hope’s Nose, which forms the northern boundary of Torbay; has of late years owing to its retired situation and salubrious air, become a place of fashionable resort to invalids, who seek the mildest atmosphere of our western climate; from a few fishermen’s huts it has become a town in miniature, although included in the small village of Tor, half a mile distant, surrounded by hills; it forms one of the most beautiful panoramic views that can be imagined, as where the cottages have not dotted up these marble declivities, a thick and luxuriant foliage spreads itself over the rocks, on the bed of which many of the houses rest their foundations. Sir Lawrence Palk and Mr. Cary, whose delightful grounds embellish as they adjoin the place, both have contributed all in their power to foster up this infant colony. Great sums of money were expended by the late worthy Baronet in building houses suitable for genteel families to inhabit, as well as an hotel, warehouses, &c. but his most arduous undertaking was the constructing a Pier, in order to make this small creek of Torbay a Port.

This is an extract from A Guide to the Watering Places on the coast between the Exe and the Dart published in 1817

Glossary:

• promontory: headland
• retired: quiet
• salubrious: healthy
• declivities: rocky hills
• foster up: promote
• colony: settlement