Post by Dave on Mar 25, 2019 17:56:50 GMT
The Valley Of The Rocks Torquay 25th March 2019
Many of the people who live in Torbay and even beyond, belong to a number of Facebook pages that are full of local historical images of Torbay past. Many comment on how things looked so much better back then and in most cases they are correct.
The Victorians seemed to have a pride in Torbay that is sadly lacking these days and I wonder if they were able to travel in time to today’s Torbay just what they would think of the place now.
Gone would be many of the wonderful villas they build, often replaced with blocks of flats. Rock Walk destroyed and just what would they have made of a tower block on the Harbour side if it had been built.
There are so many reasons why we now see so many empty boarded up shops and buildings in need of some tender loving care, why we see areas neglected and no longer being maintained. But it not just in the towns where neglect can be found and many of those places were once the playgrounds of the Victorians.
Redgate Beach springs to mind, now closed to the public for good due to rock falls. Watcombe Beach where I was also today and will do a report on that next has also become a forgotten beach left to the elements to do their deeds. I would imagine even Oddicombe Beach will end up being closed to future generations in the fullness of time.
Not lost but certainly forgotten is the Valley Of The Rocks in Torquay, a place now used by dog walkers and those who like to walk the coast paths. Who would have thought that this spot would be filled at weekends with Victorians enjoying a picnic? Who would have thought it would be the home of a fete come concert that more than six thousand people attend.
In those days, the Valley of the Rocks was just that, the impressive stone formations were not hidden by trees and the area resembled a strange lunar-like landscape. I have found an avert for the event that was planned for 1853 and so I know there was one also there in 1852.
The event was attended by the Torbay elite and a good number of the local residents, but people came from near and far and a special train from Plymouth and Exeter brought more than seven hundred people and many more arrived by later trains.
Music dancing and even children with garlands on their heads dancing around a maypole and it all went on until sunset. It is hard to imagine and even more so if you ever visit the site. Back in 2013 there were talks about restoring the area for tourists and residents alike. While there would have been many obstacles to have overcome, it seems the idea died a death in the water.
I had to day off work and did not want to waste it and set off mid morning with the plan of only taking what photos I could of the Valley Of The Rock. But once there I soon found myself walking to the edge of Maidencombe and much later down to Watcombe Beach.
I was unable to find many pictures on line of The Valley Of The Rock this morning and really thought there would not be that much to see. While the area is now full of trees and the rocks have growth on them, you can still get a good view of them.
With the rocks to your left there is a large bowl in the ground on your right and I stood there and imagined the whole area was clear as it once was and this bowl was full of people there for the concert.
The path was too inviting and I soon found myself walking deeper into the woods, it’s not easy in places and there were many steps to go up and down along the way. I walked the famous Goat Path both ways and was glad there was a handrail to hold onto.
I got to the edge of Maidencombe and took a different path back to the Valley Of The Rocks and it was a much easier route than the one I had taken.
A great four hours spent all together and I only saw just three people during that time, but I could hear the roar of those six thousand people enjoying their wonderful day at The Valley Of The Rocks
The first and second picture were both taken from the same spot, it just shows how much it has all changed since the Victorian era.
