Historic England funds artistic legacy project in Torquay

Torquay is the focus of a new heritage project set to create an artistic legacy to the history of Ellacombe.

This initiative is one of five South West projects funded by Historic England's 2025 Everyday Heritage grants programme, which has awarded nearly £500,000 to 30 projects across England.

Launched in 2022, the Everyday Heritage programme celebrates working-class histories and has supported over 100 projects with a total investment of £1.8 million. This year's focus is on buildings and places in rural and coastal locations.

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: “Across England we are all surrounded by inspiring historic buildings, landscapes, and streets, and rural and coastal heritage. These projects will shine a light on the stories of local, working-class people and their extraordinary contributions to our shared history. 

“Connecting with our heritage helps us to feel that we belong and to feel pride in our local area. This programme gives communities the opportunity to recognise and celebrate their history in their own way and to share untold stories about the places where they live so they can be enjoyed by more people for longer.” 

Above: Ellacombe Church of England Academy / Alison Helm

During the 19th century, the Ellacombe area of Torquay was built for local workers as wealthy Victorians moved to seaside villas overlooking the sea.

Many of the workers’ houses remain, but Historic England believes that an understanding of the importance of the area and the role of the working classes in enabling Torquay to flourish during the period has been forgotten, resulting in Ellacombe becoming associated with high levels of social and economic deprivation.

To address this, a £10,000 project led by Ellacombe Academy and Little Stars Nursery will help schoolchildren and their families explore this history and create a lasting artistic legacy that offers a more positive representation of Ellacombe’s past.

Local families will collaborate with local historians and artists to learn about the area’s history and create a mosaic ‘art gallery into the past.’ This artwork will be publicly displayed on the school building itself—one of the remaining Victorian public buildings in Ellacombe.

Alison Helm, headteacher at Ellacombe Academy and Little Stars Nursery, said: "As a school, we are thrilled to have Historic England's support to explore Ellacombe’s heritage, including the history of the school and the wider community. It’s vital to us that Ellacombe pupils and their families feel proud of their shared history and the essential role the area played in making Torquay the popular holiday destination it is today."

Other South West projects funded by this year’s grants include the Tamar Bridge between Devon and Cornwall, the Gardener’s House in Penzance, the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust in Dorset, and the Brockweir Inn in Gloucestershire.

Each of these community-led projects aims to connect people with often-overlooked historic places and uncover the stories behind them.

Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: "The best parts of history are the undiscovered nuggets that surprise us or make us think differently. Everyday Heritage grants enable people across the country to unearth those stories and share them with a wider audience."

For more information on past projects funded by Historic England, visit their website.