Redoubtable Landladies

Sybil Fawlty really ran FA LTY TOWER W S

During the 19th and early 20th centuries Torbay was noted for its redoubtable landladies, with women often holding unusually in uential positions for the times. Kevin Dixon tells us more.

S Sybil Fawlty was a far more e ective manager than her husband, handled crises calmly, and she knew that the hotel was there to generate an income, rather than to attract a better class of guest. She intimidated Basil who described her as having the ability to “kill a man at ten paces with one blow of her tongue.” is is the stereotype of the seaside landlady. She was usually a resilient and tough businesswoman with an ine ectual man somewhere in the background.

Intriguingly, during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, some commentators were referring to ‘men’s towns’ - which had a masculine presence in industry such as mining or steel working. ey also referred, often dismissively, to places where women had an untypical power base. Following this impression, seaside resorts were often known as women’s towns. In 1871 there were 12,772 females to 8,885 males in Torquay, women far outnumbering men, as one of the principal sources of employment was domestic service.

Of course, much work in female employment was exploitative and poorly paid. Yet, there were a few roles dominated by women that gave them an almost equal place in society. ese included the pub landlady and the guesthouse owner.

Torquay had a large number of these in a town of landladies. It was a community, which gave women a powerful and in uential position in an untypical town. is reinforced the special nature of seaside resorts where class and gender were confused and inverted. e role of guesthouse landlady had evolved with the town. In 1850 there were only 150 hotel rooms available in Torquay, plus 70 lodging housekeepers o ering another 350 rooms. From the 1860s onwards, there was a rapid growth in hotels being built to accommodate the well o , and they advertised themselves with prestigious names: e Imperial, e Grand, and e Royal.

But beyond the large hotels, lodging was in private However, having informed their landlady at Abbey Road houses. ese were independently owned and catered that she was leaving, it seemed that the said host took for the market by providing cheap, unpretentious o ence and retaliated by interfering with her mail. accommodation. Torquay was ideal for the growth of the In March 1893 the children’s author Beatrix Potter holiday trade as generously sized Victorian and Edwardian visited Torquay and also found her accommodation houses could easily be converted into boarding houses and unsatisfactory: small hotels. ese guesthouses, which would evolve into “I sni ed my bedroom on arrival, and for a few hours bed and breakfasts, had family members often working a felt a certain grim satisfaction where my forebodings were 12-hour day. e guesthouse o ered economic autonomy maintained, but it is possible to have too much Natural and domestic power to their owners, though we shouldn’t History in a bed. I did not undress after the rst night, but forget there was often the exploitation of domestic servants I was obliged to lie on it because there were only two chairs as part-time sta were also employed. and one of them was broken.”

Notably, very few single men ran a guesthouse, the sector e landlady was a feature of the Torquay holiday being clearly perceived as being a woman’s business. If a and social landscape for a century but times changed. married couple ran the house, the wife’s name was often By the seventies the golden age of the Torquay landlady above the door, the husband being relegated to a behind- was coming to an end. Redundancy payments and early the-scenes role. For older women and widows, taking in retirement had attracted into the industry more male guests was one of the few income-generators available. is owners. British holidaymakers had found that they could may be because relatively few travel to the Mediterranean. families depended on the trade exclusively. is was a seasonal and highly competitive industry and there was only a limited “ In 1871 there were 12,772 females to 8,885 males in Torquay, women far outnumbering men ere were fewer tourists and the average length of stay was becoming shorter. Meanwhile there were new forms of amount of money to be made. competition in caravans and self e males in the household usually had other occupations. catering while the larger hotels were o ering lower rates to

As pro t margins were tight, the home limited in space, and coach parties. the family workforce often stretched, many landladies found Landladies found that visitors’ expectations were rising it necessary to impose a strict discipline. ey o ered few and they had to o er more than basic accommodation amenities and cut corners whenever possible. is imperative - amenities such as television lounges and licensed bars. led to the idea of the landlady as being erce, cunning, Perhaps the greatest challenge was in the provision of en intimidating and, in caricature, often physically large; in suite bathrooms. ose old Torquay villas often proved contrast to their emasculated and downtrodden husbands. di cult to modernise without losing too much capacity.

As with many stereotypes, there was some truth here, At the same time there were new re regulations and but also the male-female role reversal and the existence of a taxes. Even though the landladies adapted and switched to cadre of powerful women does seem to have caused genuine bed and breakfast from full board, gradually the boarding unease. e landlady consequently ended up as a great house market shrank. e in uence and power of this British comic institution, the focus of jokes and seaside seaside small business model declined as the postcards for decades. ownership of tourist accommodation

As for the reality, we have many reports, cartoons and moved from the local to the songs, about how some lodgings were certainly run-down national, and now to the and dirty. Charles Dickens and William Makepeace international. ackeray wrote of how poor seaside accommodation And so, Torquay’s two was, the people were dreadful, the landladies dishonest new large hotels, the and the food appalling. ere were often in ated prices Premier Inn and the and hidden costs. Hampton, are owned

Canadian Isabella Cowen visited Torquay in 1892 respectively by a and recorded in her diary that she rst found furnished national company, apartments at 38 Abbey Road. She wasn’t impressed and Whitbread, while called their apartment a “queer dark place”. Soon after she Hilton has its moved to 6, Torwood Terrace on Babbacombe Road where base in Memphis, she found “the society of re ned and intelligent neighbours”. Tennessee. 

At Abbeyfield people are at the heart of everything we do Supported Housing for Independent People

Supported Housing for Independent People

ABBEYFIELD SOUTH WEST SOCIETY

Sheltered Housing for Independent People over 55

Both Abbeyfield houses are situated in lovely areas, boasting their own beautiful grounds. Park House in Paignton is situated directly opposite a beautiful park and is a five minute walk from the beach. Sanders Court in St Marychurch, Torquay, has a wonderful large private courtyard and the local precinct is just a five minute walk away, with all the amenities you would expect. Both sites offer good public transport services close by, so it is nice and easy to go and explore. At our Abbeyfield houses residents find friendship and support without losing their independence and dignity. The rooms are unfurnished with en-suite facilities and a kitchenette area. The houses have a communal laundry, dining room, lounge and beautiful garden. Each house has a small and friendly committed To arrange a visit or for more information telephone the Manager at: Park House, Paignton 01803 557732 or for Sanders Court, Torquay 01803 316164. Or visit our website: www.abbeyfield.com Registered Society No: 23413R under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014

ABBEYFIELD SOUTH WEST SOCIETYBoth Abbeyfield houses are situated in lovely areas, boasting their own beautiful grounds. Park House in Paignton is situated directly opposite a beautiful park staff, consisting of a Manager, cooks and a cleaner and is a five minute walk from the beach. Sanders who all work together to ensure residents are happy and content. Court in St Marychurch, Torquay, has a wonderful There are various activities, events and entertainment large private courtyard and the local precinct is just a that take place throughout the year which the five minute walk away, with all the amenities you would residents can join in if they wish. expect. Both sites offer good public transport services close by, so it is nice and easy to go and explore. Traditional home cooked meals are provided in the dining room every day and breakfast provisions are provided for residents to have in their rooms. At our Abbeyfield houses residents find friendship The weekly charge covers all utilities and food, so and support without losing their independence there are no bills to worry about, other than a BT telephone line which is necessary for the residents, and dignity. 24hr emergency pendant to work, so all concerns The rooms are unfurnished with en-suite facilities and a kitchenette area. The houses have a communal about running a house are taken away. Each room has its own 24hr emergency call system for residents peace of mind. laundry, dining room, lounge and beautiful garden. Each house has a small and friendly committed To arrange a visit or for more information telephone the Manager at: Park House, Paignton 01803 557732 or for Sanders Court, Torquay 01803 316164. Or visit our website: www.abbeyfield.com

staff, consisting of a Manager, cooks and a cleaner who all work together to ensure residents are happy and content. There are various activities, events and entertainment that take place throughout the year which the residents can join in if they wish. Traditional home cooked meals are provided in the dining room every day and breakfast provisions are provided for residents to have in their rooms. The weekly charge covers all utilities and food, so All bills are included, except telephone line & calls there are no bills to worry about, other than a BT telephone line which is necessary for the residents, 24hr emergency pendant to work, so all concerns about running a house are taken away. Each room has its own 24hr emergency call system for residents peace of mind.

THE SECRET MUSEUM

Torquay Museum is celebrating its 175th anniversary with a fascinating exhibition of 175 hidden-away objects from its ‘behind the scenes’ store cupboards, most specially chosen by local residents. We preview the collection.

Unpredictable? You bet! What happens when you invite a large number of local Torbay residents to rummage around your store cupboards where items that have not been seen for years – if ever – are hidden away?

Keen paddler and kayaker Steve Darling chose a highly decorated paddle from the South Seas. Young Daniel aged 6 chose a Crocodile Trophy Head saying he likes crocodiles because they are dangerous. Judith Mills selected a Mottoware Pot explaining that she has only recently discovered the story of Torquay Pottery and loves the piece from Watcombe.

I took an immediate fancy to the stunning Inlaid Marble Specimen Table. It shows o the di erent colours and fossils that make our local limestone so special, and helped limestone so special, and helped to create a successful stone to create a successful stone industry in the Bay in the 19th industry in the Bay in the 19th century. century. I also enjoy the dramatic contrast between the simple, contrast between the simple, rustic Carters’ Smock worn by workers in the 18th century and the dazzling silver Cocktail Dress worn by Maurine Reynolds who moved to Torquay to escape bombs in Plymouth during WW2.

e old-fashioned, highly polished cabinets of butter ies catch my eye with their fabulous iridescent colours. ere’s also a wonderful dolls’ house, which used to be on permanent display at the museum but was put into store in 2005. Don’t miss ‘Sally’ a VJ Day Doll made from waste materials as a special souvenir for Lorna Smith of Torquay and given by her mother to celebrate VJ Day 1945. More poignant is Aubrey Brown’s 1943 diary, kept daily until he died in 1943 when a German bomb hit St Marychurch. More international is a 19th century Wooden Printing Block used to advertise a tea-selling business during the 19th century Opium Wars with China. e exhibition also attempts to explain the reasons some items are seldom displayed. Some were secret or rather mysterious, some items raise ethical considerations, some are just very big and heavy, some may be prone to deterioration, some are extremely rare and valuable causing a security risk and some have been overlooked or forgotten. e Secret Museum exhibition is on at Torquay Museum until 4 September 2021.   torquaymuseum.org

Foodie Delights & Family Fun at Occombe

A brand-new farm shop is opening at Occombe Farm. Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust (TCCT) has confirmed that their old shop is being extended and completely re tted for a mid-August launch.

The new Occombe Farm Shop will provide a central point to buy the very best produce the West Country has to o er. ree-quarters of its products have been sourced from across the region. With a 6,000-product range including fresh and wholefoods, wines, spirits, beers and ciders, bakery and deli, plus lifestyle and gifts, it’s sure to be popular with food-lovers. e remodelling and relaunch of Occombe Farm Shop is part of TCCT’s wider plan to regenerate Occombe Farm as a brand new, all weather, year-round, farm visitor destination, due to open later this year. Occombe Farm Park & Play will be a mix of indoor and outdoor activities for all the family. ere will be exploratory and inspirational indoor

play for children aged “ 2 – 12 years, an outdoor jumping pillow feature and a self-guided animal trail with animal encounters barn and farm animal paddocks.

Lily Shaw, Retail Manager, Occombe Farm Shop says, “Our team has spent months seeking out the cream of our region’s crop. We’ve listened to producer stories, tasted and sampled to select an exceptional, hand-picked product range.” ere will be a selection of farm-cooked deli options and product choices have been made to minimise singleuse plastics and incorporate re llables and recycling. e regeneration of Occombe Farm will generate 60 new jobs.

A variety of new and interesting roles have been created including Customer Service Assistants and Kitchen Team Assistants. Occombe will be seeking to secure new sta for the play barn and animal trail in the coming months. Cath Cooke the new General Manager of Occombe says, “We can’t wait to unveil our brand new Occombe Farm Shop to our local community, and visitors. Whilst we’re working hard on getting our farm shop open for August, lots of work will be going on behind the scenes at Occombe to bring our exciting new Farm Park & Play to Torbay for the autumn”. As Torbay’s local conservation charity, Members of the TCCT is responsible for new farm shop team protecting and conserving over 1,700 acres of

Our team has spent months seeking out the cream of our region’s crop. We’ve listened to producer stories, tasted and sampled to select an exceptional, hand-picked product range Torbay’s special natural places including Berry Head Nature Reserve, Cockington Country Park, Occombe Farm and many precious woodlands, cli s and coastal walks. Occombe will help raise funds towards TCCT’s care of these treasured green places and spaces in Torbay. It will also allow the Trust to provide more varied and better-supported volunteering opportunities for local residents.   countryside-trust.org.uk