Oldway now officially at risk

Paignton's historic yet forlorn Oldway Mansion is now on an official 'at risk' register.
The once palatial home of the Isaac Singer sewing machine family is a sorry and shameful shadow of its former self.
Empty and derelict since Torbay Council stopped using it for offices several years ago, parts of the mansion are falling down and its once glorious staircase and opulent ballrooms have been ravaged by damp and vandals, with chandeliers making way for smashed glass.
Historic England released heartbreaking images of the inside of the mansion as it placed Oldway on its 2023 Heritage at Risk Register.
The register gives an annual snapshot of the health of England’s valued historic buildings and places.
Over the past year, 43 historic buildings and sites have been added to the register in the South West because they are at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development and 74 sites have been saved and their futures secured.
In total in the South West, there are 1,348 entries on the Heritage at Risk Register in 2023 – 31 fewer than in 2022.
Across the South West, significant sites added to the Heritage at Risk Register 2023 include Oldway, inspired by the Palace of Versailles. In 2022/2023, Historic England awarded £1.79 million in grants for repairs to 56 historic places and sites, including conservation areas, in the South West, on the Heritage at Risk Register.
Many buildings and sites have been rescued with the help and commitment of local people, communities, charities, owners, and funders including The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Historic England’s expert advice, grant aid, and creative thinking has also been key in delivering people’s visions for how these historic places can be used again.
However, more work needs to be done as more buildings and places become at risk.
Cllr Chris Lewis, Deputy Leader of Torbay Council, said: “Oldway is a much-loved community asset in Torbay.
“By partnering with Historic England, we can ensure that not only is the history of Oldway protected and preserved, but that together we can ensure it has a sustainable future that can be enjoyed in a range of different ways.”
Major repairs are being planned for the 19th century millionaire’s dream home which later became part of community life in Paignton.
Built in 1873 for Isaac Singer, the millionaire founder of the sewing machine company, Oldway Mansion was conceived as a fashionable French Renaissance-style villa.
Its lavishly finished interiors included a ballroom, a hall of mirrors, and a theatre, reflecting Singer’s love of the arts. Singer’s son, Paris, remodelled the house between 1904 and 1907, drawing inspiration from the Palace of Versailles.
He replaced his father’s theatre with an opulent imperial staircase and appointed leading French landscape architect, Achille Duchesne, to design the grounds. In 1914, Paris donated Oldway to the American Women's War Committee.
It was converted to a military hospital and treated over 7,000 soldiers before the end of the First World War. In 1929, it became the Torbay Country Club, and in 1939 the RAF requisitioned the building.
The Borough Council bought Oldway Mansion from the Singer family in 1945. It remained in use as council offices until 2013, when it became vacant.
The building is now in poor condition. In some areas, the roofs and external walls are in urgent need of repair to stop water getting in and causing damp, dry rot, and damage to historic plasterwork, and there are some structural problems.
Throughout 2023, Torbay Council has been running its ‘Developing a Resilient Future for Oldway’ project, engaging a team of consultants and the community to develop a shared, sustainable and viable plan for Oldway Mansion.
The final plan will be used to inform a programme of repairs and conservation that will bring Oldway back into use.
Cllr Adam Billings, the Cabinet Member for Pride in Place, Culture and Events and Parking for Torbay Council, said: “2023 is shaping up to be a significant year for Oldway as we bring forward long-term partnerships with significant heritage bodies – demonstrating our commitment to raising the profile of heritage across Torbay.
“Oldway is a much-loved community asset in Torbay. By partnering with Historic England, we can ensure that not only is the history of Oldway protected and preserved, but that together we can ensure it has a sustainable future that can be enjoyed in a range of different ways.
Cllr Billings added: “2023 is shaping up to be a significant year for Oldway as we bring forward long-term partnerships with significant heritage bodies - demonstrating our commitment to raising the profile of heritage across Torbay.”