Founded in 1196, Torre Abbey is the largest surviving mediaeval monastery in Devon and Cornwall. Partially destroyed during the Dissolution, the grounds and converted buildings were finally purchased by the Cary family in 1662 and used as their home for the next 268 years.
The abbey was bought by the local authority in 1930 for use as an art gallery to house the substantial surviving collection of work by Victorian sculptor Frederick Thrupp, who spent the last 8 years of his life living in Torquay. It now also houses a large collection of nationally important paintings including works by two Pre-Raphaelites: William Holman Hunt ('The Children's Holiday, 1864) and Edward Burne-Jones (cartoons for a set of stained glass windows depicting the planets).
The newly restored buildings are now part historic house, part museum and part gallery, reflecting eight centuries of local and national history.
