Torbay

Torbay is an east facing bay at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. Historically part of the county of Devon, situated in the south, Torbay was made a unitary authority on April 1, 1998.

Related Topics:
Lyme Bay - England - Exeter - Plymouth - Devon - Unitary authority - April 1 - 1998

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There are three main towns around the bay: Torquay in the North, Paignton in the centre, and Brixham in the south, which have mostly grown together over the last fifty years, swallowing up villages and towns such as St Marychurch, Cockington, Marldon and Galmpton.

Related Topics:
Torquay - Paignton - Brixham - St Marychurch - Cockington - Marldon - Galmpton

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Torbay as an administrative area was created in 1968 as a County Borough from the amalgamation of the Boroughs of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. Although today this seems a logical choice, at the time nearby Teignmouth nearly joined in place of Paignton. In 1974 The town was swallowed back into Devon.

Related Topics:
County Borough - Borough - Teignmouth - Paignton - 1974 - Devon

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The northern limit of the bay is Hopes Nose and the south is Berry Head, although the town stretches further north and into Babbacombe Bay, where the popular beaches at Oddicombe and Babbacombe can be found. These are noted for their interesting Breccia cliffs.

Related Topics:
Hopes Nose - Berry Head - Babbacombe Bay - Oddicombe - Babbacombe - Breccia

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Despite (or rather in spite of) the climate conditions "palm trees" are commonly planted along the coast of Torbay. The Torbay Palm is actually a Yucca Tree. This has led to the area being known as the English Riviera. In fact, it is one of the most well known tourist resorts in Britain. The area is also host to a large number of European students learning {{ll|English}} every summer.

Related Topics:
Yucca - English Riviera - European

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Famous former residents of Torbay include authors Agatha Christie (who set many of her novels in a thinly disguised version of the town), Charles Kingsley and Rudyard Kipling, the great industrialist and architect of the nearby Atmospheric Railway, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and (allegedly) Barry Manilow. Prog band Wishbone Ash also hail from the town.

Related Topics:
Agatha Christie - Charles Kingsley - Rudyard Kipling - Atmospheric Railway - Isambard Kingdom Brunel - Barry Manilow - Wishbone Ash

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Torbay lacks motorway links and is served by the A380 road from Exeter and a branch rail line from the Great Western Railway at Newton Abbot.

Related Topics:
Motorway - Exeter - Great Western Railway - Newton Abbot

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Torbay is bordered to the south and west by the South Hams and to the north by Teignbridge. Nearby towns include Totnes, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Exeter.

Related Topics:
South Hams - Teignbridge - Totnes - Newton Abbot - Teignmouth - Exeter

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