Heritage Treasures Day on 11 January #HeritageTreasures
Wednesday 11 January is Heritage Treasures Day organised by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This is an online celebration of heritage selected by people and places across the UK. Read more about this at the link to #HeritageTreasures.
On Wednesday via Torbay Culture’s twitter feed we will be sharing a few of Torbay's heritage treasures, including the intangible heritage that is reflected in the stories and people of the English Riviera. For example, our UNESCO designated home has been the inspiration for numerous films, plays, and dramas over the years. The Heritage Fund is encouraging partners to share their treasures using the hashtag #HeritageTreasures on 11 January.
Torbay is home to numerous scheduled monuments, conservation areas, historic environments and gardens, and hundreds of listed buildings. There are fascinating collections comprising many thousands of objects in three Accredited museums, including the nationally designated Quaternary collection and archive in Torquay Museum.
Just a few more examples of Torbay’s heritage treasures include
Berry Head in Brixham: a National Nature Reserve, Special Area of Conservation, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Scheduled Monument. The guillemot colony is protected by the only Area of Special Protection in the UK
Oldway in Paignton: the mansion, grade II* listed, and historic gardens, are much loved by local people. Thanks to Heritage Fund support specialist advice and expertise has been recruited by Torbay Council to develop a masterplan for the site during 2023.
Paignton Picture House: one of Europe’s earliest purpose built cinemas, this grade II* landmark is being restored thanks to investment from the Cultural Development Fund, Future High Streets Fund, and grants from Historic England and the Architectural Heritage Fund, among others.
The bay’s literary heritage - celebrated in the Writers on the Riviera - is fascinating and an authentic part of the cultural story of Torbay: Authors who created work whilst residing here included Seán O'Casey, Mary Shelley, George Bernard Shaw, Kipling, Tennyson and Wilde.
The world’s most published author is one who was born here - Agatha Christie: The writer’s life and work is celebrated every year with the Agatha Christie Festival. A new permanent artwork is being made ready to be installed in Dame Agatha’s home town of Torquay as part of the public realm improvements.
Kents Cavern prehistoric caves: a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Scheduled Monument, and gateway site to the UNESCO Global Geopark. Owned and managed by the same family for generations, Kents Cavern is the site of the earliest modern human remains found in the UK.
Torre Abbey in Torquay: this 18 acre site comprises historic gardens, an Accredited museum in a grade I listed building and Scheduled Monument. Thanks to investment from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and a MEND grant managed by Arts Council England, conservation works will take place over the next couple of years.
These are only a few. The bay is also a place of great stories and an inspiration to writers, filmmakers, creative practitioners, and innovators.
Where we live has multiple #HeritageTreasures, and everyone has a different perspective on what they treasure. To get involved and share yours, head to social media on 11 January, select a heritage example that means something to you, and then write your own heritage social media post using #HeritageTreasures and tag @HeritageFundUK
Images: aerial view of Berry Head National Nature Reserve (top image) and view across Thatcher Rock towards Berry Head (ERBIDCo)
