Dr Peter Moore: Torquay may not be in Lourdes but it is in the most beautiful part of the UK

With the hassle of airports and travel overseas will holidaymakers find it easier to hop onto the M4 or A303 and come to Devon? It seems fashionable to travel to Cornwall but I could never understand why anyone would travel through the most beautiful county in the country to cross the border into Cornwall.

The history of the British seaside holiday goes back to the 18th century when Dr Richard Russell wrote of the health benefits of sea swimming, although the idea was also suggested by the ancient Greeks.

Torquay developed as a seaside resort and health retreat in the mid 19th century. As Bournemouth grew it was nicknamed the 'Hampshire Torquay'. Bournemouth is no longer in Hampshire and their football team has proved rather more successful than Torquay.

In 1857 the town built the Marine Spa on the site of the current disused Living Coasts.

The Household Physician (1890) wrote of Torquay 'it presents the invalid manifold attractions... it is a favourite place for persons suffering from general debility for whom it is eminently suited .... it is recommended in chronic bronchitis, pleurisy and asthma', although it also suggests that smoking tobacco helps asthma and so it is not entirely reliable.

The idea of advertising Torquay as a health resort seemed a good idea to the town council and so the finance committee wrote to the Medical Society on September 5, 1899 asking, 'how the advantages of Torquay as a health resort may be brought more prominently before the public''
They wanted to 'have Torquay eulogised by some leading London medical gentleman'. The doctors were not impressed and replied, 'it is impossible to secure the services of any London medical gentleman of eminence to write an article to order in praise of Torquay or any other health resort'.

The council did not give up. On April 13, 1921, the town clerk wanted the local doctors to 'actively assist in popularizing the baths and sending patients for treatment'. Even though the medical baths were in financial trouble there is no record of any response from the Medical Society.

The council did not give up. On 19 April 1923 a subcommittee was set up and sent a proposed brochure to all doctors who were still sceptical. They replied: “It is impossible to accept or support many of the claims .. they do not feel that they have sufficient information to justify .. making a direct recommendation to the council. The matter needs careful monitoring”.

The town clerk persisted. On March 26, 1925 he wrote to the society asking for medical representative for the Baths Committee. The mayor wanted 'a full frank discussion why was he not receiving wholehearted support from the medical profession?'
On April 6, 1925, the Medical Society agreed that the Baths should be an asset to the town but complained about their advertising which claimed therapeutic value of 'radium water'. This sounded impressive but was meaningless, an example of pseudoscience. They could not support many of the health claims made by the Bath Committee.

Two years later the Bath Committee were still seeking medical approval. In November 1927 the society received a letter from the Baths Committee saying they will erect a vitaglass sun lounge the length of the ballroom facing Beacon Cove. The society replied explaining that they could not give an opinion. Vitaglass was developed in the 1920s. Unlike traditional glass it allowed the sun’s ultraviolent rays to pass through and, as the advertising claimed, 'let health into the building'. It seems the Medical Society was not impressed. Today we would also be concerned about the risk of skin cancer.

We can advertise the English Riviera as a great place for a holiday without the hassle of going to an airport but I agree with my colleagues of a century ago. There are health benefit with exercise and sea water but there are many other advantages of a South Devon holiday. Let’s not push the health side. Torquay is not Lourdes.