location

Page 1


interesting places

This list of the tallest buildings and structures in London ranks skyscrapers and towers in London, United Kingdom by height. Since November 2010 the tallest structure in London has been the Shard London Bridge. It was topped out at approximately 306 metres (1,004 ft) in March 2012, making it the tallest habitable building in Western Europe. The second tallest building is the 50-storey One Canada Square, which rises 235 metres (771 ft) in Canary Wharfand was completed in 1991.




HMS Bellerophon in Tor Bay for two days and is reported to have exclaimed ‘Quel Bon Pays’ (what a lovely country).

Torquay is full of surprises with its magnificentMild horseshoe-shaped bay, swaying palm trees, ocean breezelegant Victorian villas, pretty es, sandy beaches marina, sweeping sandy beach and itsswaying fascinatingTorbay Agatha Chrisand tie connections.

Palms give the small English town of Torquay a Torquay’s history is bound up in the Napoleonic Wars distinctively Mediterranewhen the town bean feel. More came athan water-just a beach spot, Torquay boasts an enormous

ing hole for the rich elite who could no longer visit continental Europe and who were greatly struck by its coastbeauty and mild climate. Following Battleand of al the aviary Waterloo, Napoleon the famous Kents was held captive Cavern on thePrehistoric

Caves. Agatha Christie spent most of her life here, and the city is now home to multiple film companies. With such a rich literary history, Torquay

may be the perfect place to finish writing that novel or screenplay, or just to relax with a good mystery.



There was little development until the early 19th century, when Lawrence Palk, 2nd Baronet built a new harbour here. Much of the later building in the town was done by his solicitor, William Kitson, who was put in charge of the Palk estates in 1833. At this time the town started to attract visitors in ill health as a winter resort because of its fresh air and mild climate. Its population grew by over ten times in the first 50 years of the century. Later in the century, Torquay became a favoured resort for the upper classes. In 1870, Lawrence Palk, 1st Baron Haldon built another new harbour for the town which made it popular with yacht sailors. It was also extensively used for importing coal and wool from Australia.


T

HE WN OF TOR Q TO U A Y The History of Torquay, a town in Torbay, on the south coast of the county of Devon, England, starts some 450,000 years ago with early human artefacts found in Kents Cavern. There is little evidence of any permanent occupation at Torquay until the eleventh century records in the Domesday Book, though it is known that visits were made by Roman soldiers and there was a small Saxon settlement called ‘Torre’. In 1196 Torre Abbey was founded here, which by the time of its dissolution in 1539, had become the richest PremonstratensianMonastery in England. The buildings were bought by Sir George Cary in 1662.



It lies 18 miles (29 km) south of the county town of Exeter and 28 miles (45 km) eastnorth-east of Plymouth, on

the north of Tor Bay, adjoining the neighbouring town of Pagination on the west of the bay and across from the fishing port of Brigham. In the 2011 UK Census, Torquay’s population was

65,245, about half of that of the whole of Torbay. The town’s economy, like Brixham’s, was initially based upon fishing and agriculture, but in the early 19th century the town began to develop into a fashionable seaside resort, initially

The streets


frequented by members of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars while the Royal Navy anchored in the bay. Later, as the town’s fame spread, it was popular with the crème de la crème of Victorian society. Renowned

for its healthful climate, the town earned the nickname of the Riviera and favourable comparisons to Montpellier. Torquay was the home of the writer Agatha Christie, who was born in the

town and lived there during her early years. The town contains an “Agatha Christie

of torquay


Torquay Town Centre is in a Business Improvement District . Business Improvement Districts are not-for-profit organisations which aim to regenerate areas and increase footfall. Torquay Town Centres business ratepayers are investing extra money into im-


proving the Torquay town centre even further for the benefit of local r idents and visitors. The money provides the opportunity to improve the faรงade of the town and its cleanliness.


By katherine changoluisa navarro


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.