Local Information (Babbacombe & St Marychurch)
Babbacombe & Oddicombe Beaches.
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The two beaches form picturesque Babbacombe Bay ( Lyme Bay) part of the 22 miles of the English Rivera coastline. Oddicombe beach is a Blue Flag beach to the North sand, shingle and rock. Babbacombe beach further to the south access to both is via a walkway. Note: Dogs not allowed on certain beaches May to September.
Facilities available include toilets, cafe etc. Beach huts are for hire daily, weekly or seasonal. Base of the Corinthian Yacht Club ( founded in 1935 ). Bottlenose dolphins sighted of Oddicombe Beach.
Babbacombe Beach one of the most popular areas in the region for diver training a well known scuba diving venue and home of Babbacombe Sea Anglers Association ( formed in 1967 ).
Sea fishing is popular, mackerel, pouting, garfish, pollack and bass if casting out from Babbacombe pier and or Oddicombe beach ( the best fishing times night and at high tide ).
St Marychurch & Babbacombe
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Bracing sea air, mild climate, palm trees, walks, attractions, restaurants and hotels welcome visitors to this fabulous area. Red sandstone cliffs tower majestically 250ft above sea level. left: Oddicombe Beach right: view of Babbacombe from Oddicombe Beach.
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left & right: The panoramic views across Babbacombe Bay (Lyme Bay) looking towards the Dorset coast from Babbacombe Downs, the highest promenade in England is stunning.
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left: St Marychurch Precinct. Model Village (opened in 1966), Bygones museum (opened 1987). right: Tessier Gardens a haven of peace and tranquility owned and maintained by Torbay Council.
Tessier Garden awarded the Green Flag in 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10
Website: http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/
Torbay Council Parks Department website: www.torbay.gov.uk/print/index/leisure/parks/parkareas/tessiergardens.htm
Tessier Gardens Friends Group www.tessiergardensfriendsgroup.co.uk
www.stmarychurchdag.co.uk/ Tessier Gardens page
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left: Babbacombe Downs right: Babbacombe Theatre (opened in 1939 ) far end of the Downs. A few who have entertained audiences in the past: Bruce Forsyth, Jimmy Tarbuck, Roy Hudd, Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball.
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left: view of Oddicombe beach from Babbacombe Downs. right: view of Babbacombe from Petit tor.
St Marychurch & Babbacombe a vibrant community proud of their heritage.
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Walk down to the beaches via either:
Babbacombe Beach Road or the pathways Babbacombe Slopes left & right: through scenic woodlands to the beaches.
Conservation
St Marychurch & District Action Group is a voluntary non-political community partnership established in 1998 with the aim to improve all aspects of our surroundings.
The group are members of Greenspace Torbay, an umbrella organisation for friends and community groups in Torbay and Torbay in Bloom who oversee horticultural and environmental improvement projects on publicly owned land throughout Torbay.
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St Marychurch & District Action Group volunteers in co-operation with Torbay Council and other organisations working on a major conservation project. The rejuvenation of an old garden on the Babbacombe slopes just below Babbacombe Theatre.
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St Marychurch & District Action Group awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund (Breathing Places) in 2007 for the Glen Sannox project.
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/
Glen Sannox project the largest community project the group have ever undertaken logon: www.stmarychurchdag.co.uk Glen Sannox page.
Custodians
Although we are in the twenty first century nostalgia is an important part in the lives of many encompassing both young and old whether they reside, work, visit or in business not only in St Marychurch & Babbacombe but elsewhere.
Too much now and in the past destroyed relegated into the annals of history through lack of vision and understanding of our rich heritage.
It is a privilege to live in such an outstanding area of the country. The superb range of coastal, inland, and marine habitats, diverse flora and fauna all must be preserved for all who live or visit here now and in the future.
Parks, open spaces and floral displays brighten up our towns and cities. Living and working in well maintained environmental surroundings is beneficial to our well being.
Often a plethora of comments are made when voluntary help is requested, ‘Why should I bother', 'Who cares it doesn’t affect me' and 'What in it for me’.
This selfish attitude is unworthy of any further comment!
Voluntary work is a valuable contribution to a community and its resources. Any decision to become involved should not be misapplied in order to achieve monetary, financial, personal, political aspirations or to seek publicity purely for their own selfish egotrips.
These attudes are unethical and could by implication hinder, alienate and compromise the integrity and credibility of those, who give freely time and effort and seek no rewards.
Participating in striving to improve the quality of life helps towards ensuring we continue to live in a healthy and democratic society.
It provides an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to share knowledge, skills and experiences also a link to citizenship and employability.
Previous and present tides of alleged progression have swept away segments of our past leaving in its wake regret, anger, doubt and fond memories of day's gone bye.
Thankfully there are more and more who are prepared to ask why is this indiscriminate destruction allowed to continue?
All too frequently answers either unforthcoming or non-committal.
Encouraging, supporting environmental re-generation efforts may help our environment recover from past and present mistakes, although some damage may prove to be irreversible.
Preservation and conservation is of paramount importance, we are only custodians of this planet with a moral duty to live in and leave a healthy environment. Not just for today a priceless legacy to be passed on to future generations.
The alternative is a world of concrete, tarmac, pollution, and books with pictures of flora and fauna lost forever.
This planet is our home where else can we go? J.M.L.
If you are a mover and a shaker, not a glory taker and publicity seeker St Marychurch & District Action Group needs your help. Be it volunteers, donations or sponsorship. e-mail contact:
jml@stmarychurchdag.co.uk or publicity@stmarychurchdag.co.uk
Famous People
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Many have been enchanted, visited and resided in Babbacombe & St Marychurch including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, The Prince of Wales, Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Barret Browning, William Blake, Sean O'Casey, Baroness Georgina Mount Temple plus many more.
Above views of Petit Tor Babbacombe and Babbacombe Bay 1870's
Queen Victoria
Her description of Babbacombe in her 1846 journal:
It is a beautiful spot, which before we had only passed at a distance. Red cliffs and rocks with wooded hills like Italy, and reminding one of a ballet or play where nymphs appear, such rocks and grottoes, with deepest sea on which there was no ripple'
Queen Victoria remained on board the royal yacht in Babbacombe Bay whilst her consort Prince Albert and their sons, Prince Albert and the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) visited Emma Keyse at The Glen in 1852, the Prince of Wales visited The Glen again in 1879.
John Babbacombe Lee
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In 1884 at the beach house called 'The Glen' ( demolished in 1904 site of Babbacombe Beach car park ) resident Miss Emma Keyes was murdered by John Lee.
One of the most notorious crimes in the late nineteenth century which became world famous.
The murder inquiry held at St Marychurch Town Hall John Lee convicted in 1885 and incarcerated in Exeter Prison where three attempts to hang him failed. Released in 1907 after serving a life sentence.
"Babbacombe" Lee Fairport Convention ( Island released in 1971 ) and the many published books portray him as John Babbacombe Lee 'The Man They Could Not Hang'.
John 'Babbacombe' Lee 'The Man They Could Not Hang' Hardback book written by Mike Holgate & Ian David Waugh published by Sutton Publishing in February 2005.
Georgina Baroness Mount-Temple
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Lady Mount-Temple sister of Lord Tollemache of Helmington a great humanitarian whose interest included the Band of Mercy founded by Lord Mount-Temple, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Anti-Vivisection Society and the Temperance Movement.
She resided at Babbacombe Cliff ( later re-named Babbacombe Cliff Hotel now converted into flats ) during various periods of the year until 1894 she became a permanent resident. She fed birds from the veranda at the front of her residence and was interested in the protection of wild birds. Georgina Baroness Mount-Temple died on October 17th 1901.
On the northern end of Babbacombe Downs is a bronze statue erected by her friends in her memory ( sculpture Mr A. G. Walker). In the presence of the Mayor Cllr Mr J Taylor unveiled by her great friend Archdeacon Basil Wilberforce on a wet and stormy day in October 9th 1903.
The basin and the pedestal of the fountain on which it stands are of a greenish black basalt from Trusham in the Teign Valley, the pedestal stands on a base of grey Ashburton marble from H. Jenkins & Son Union Street ( business ceased trading ).
St Marychurch Precinct Centre
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The centre was officially opened in 1996 after a magnificent fundraising effort.
Open every weekday from 10am-4pm. Tel: 01803-322752
Babbacombe & St Marychurch Local History Society Contact 01803 391415
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