Torre Abbey Historic House and Gallery

The King's Drive
Torquay
Devon
TQ2 5JE
England

Website

www.torre-abbey.org.uk

E-mail

Telephone

Main number

01803 293 593

Fax

01803 215948

All information is drawn or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

Torre Abbey was founded in 1196 as a monastery for the Premonstratensian order of Canons. By the 15th century it was the richest monastery of the order in the whole of the UK. After the dissolution of the monasteries it was turned into a country house, and was home to the Cary family from 1662 to 1930. The early monastic tithe barn was used to hold prisoners of the Armada, since when it has been known as "The Spanish Barn". Today the Abbey consists of two Grade I and four Grade II listed buildings and a scheduled ancient monument.

Venue Type:

Museum, Historic house or home, Archaeological site, Garden, parklands or rural site

Opening hours

Torre Abbey re-opened on 5th July 2008 following a 4 year restoration programme. Opening times are:
Daily
March - October 10.00 - 18.00, last entry 17.00
November - February 10.00 - 17.00, last entry 16.00

Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Admission charges

Adults: £5.75 (£4.50 for groups)
OAPs: £4.80
Students: £4.80
Children [5 - 18]: £2.45
Family ticket: £14.25
Groups, adult: £4.50
School groups: £2.00
Accompanying adults: Free
Under 5s: Free
Carers: Free
Friends Of Torre Abbey: Free with membership card

Discounts

Museums Association
British Association of Friends of Museums

Additional info

The building is now 90% wheelchair accessible, following an extensive restoration project spanning 4 years.

Torre Abbey contains a regionally important collection of oil paintings and watercolours. It is particularly strong in 19th century portraits and landscapes, especially the work of the Preraphaelites, although most recent acquisitions have been by more recent artists, especially.