Once Torquay’s finest vista, now home to 'three ugly sisters'

In light of the recent £70 million announcement for plans to transform Torquay’s harbourside, we thought we’d explore the history of Vane Hill and Vane Tower, which overlook the area.

We are able to share these images and research thanks to our valued partnerships with Torquay Museum and local historian Graham Wheatley.

The Vane Hill vista was once considered one of the most beautiful views in Torquay, being primarily home to Victorian-era buildings that showcased the architecture of that period.

However, this changed with the demolition of the Shirley Tower Hotel, St Clair, and the Marsworth Hotel, which were replaced by three block towers called Shirley Towers — nicknamed “the three ugly sisters”.

A photo provided by Torquay Museum captures Shirley Towers mid-construction.

Above: Shirley Towers mid-construction in 1963

The Facebook group Torquay in Pictures claims that Shirley Towers was built in an attempt to move away from the town’s Victorian heritage and make it resemble areas like Monaco.

Graham adds: “Designed by Alec C French & Partners of Bristol, today’s Shirley Towers commands fine views for occupants. However, to the observer, they remain aesthetically challenging and, at best, utilitarian.

“When the show flat opened on 17 October 1963 — furnished by Messrs Maple & Co, Ltd, London — the original asking prices for the six smaller apartments on the garden floor started at £5,850, while the 24 larger flats ranged from £16,450 to £18,233 for the penthouses. In recent years, many of the balconies overlooking the harbour have been enclosed.”

According to Graham, four impressive villas —Devonia, St Clair, Fairlight and  Stolzenfels — were built on Vane Hill in the 1860s and completed by 1864.

Above: Princess Gardens 1953 with Vane Hill Victorian villas in background. Image: Torquay Museum

Devonia later became the Shirley Tower Hotel after a redesign. Fairlight was later renamed Duddingstoun and then Marsworth House, while Stolzenfels was renamed Vane Cliff.

Of the four villas, only Vane Cliff survives today, as it was redesigned and converted into service flats in 1952, thereby escaping the later fate of its neighbours. Vane Cliff was further redeveloped into apartments in April 1965.

The demolition of these once-proud properties began in 1959, with Marsworth House being the first to fall. By late 1962, the project was complete, and the site was cleared.

The Facebook group Undiscovered Torbay said: “Nothing but Vane Tower has survived the developer’s bulldozer above Bay Court Hotel (itself bombed with tragic loss of life during the war). All those villas are gone, along with Hotel Riviera.”

Above: Torquay harbour bathed in sunshine today. Image: Guy Henderson

Graham’s separate research on Vane Tower reveals that it was originally built as two semi-detached villas, Pinecliff and Villa Lugano, modelled after a property overlooking Italy’s Lake Lugano. They were designed to be easily converted into a single residence if desired.

In 1874, Villa Lugano was home to Mr and Mrs John Petherick, while Charles Paton Henderson JP — who was involved in the formation of the Manchester Ship Canal Company — lived in Pinecliff with his son. Henderson later moved to Didsbury, where he passed away in July 1889, five years before the canal opened.

By the early 1900s, Pinecliff was converted into one spacious residence and renamed Vane Tower.

In 1907, a small fire broke out in the drawing room but was quickly extinguished. However, in 1910, the property suffered a lightning strike.

The Blacker family bought Vane Tower in 1906 and used it to host various political gatherings.

In 1910, Col C R and The Hon Mrs Burn stayed there during the summer while Col Burn stood as the Unionist candidate for Torquay.

In 1911, Vane Tower was recorded under the name of Carmen Blacker.

Other visitors included playwright George Bernard Shaw and conductor Sir Basil Cameron, who arrived in Torquay in 1912 to become the music director at The Pavilion and to lead the Torquay Municipal Orchestra.

In May 1912, Sir Lewis William Molesworth Bt, a Liberal Unionist Party politician from Trewarthenic, Cornwall, died suddenly at Vane Tower during a visit.

In October 1918, Mrs J Greg, the honorary secretary of the Women’s Party Campaign — part of the suffragette movement — used the property’s telephone line, listed as Torquay 401.

Above: Vane Tower was originally built as two semi-detached villas. Image: Derek Harper

After the Blacker family’s departure in 1922, an auction was held on 2–3 May 1923 to sell the property’s modern and antique furniture.

In 1929, Caleb Gaskill Evans and his wife moved in.

In March 1932, another furniture auction was held before Vane Tower opened as a hotel.

The 20-bedroom Vane Tower Hotel, as seen in a vintage postcard, operated until April 1952, with its furniture and effects auctioned off the following month.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Vane Tower was pressed into service for the nation  and served as a lookout post.

In 1948, it became the birthplace of the Torquay Aero Club, with its honorary secretary, J W Wrobel, living there.

By the 1960s, the property had been divided into three: Vane Towers, Little Madeira, and Villa Lugano.

Graham adds: “My thanks to Garry Phare, who confirmed that during the Great Storm of 1987, an entire section of the roof lifted off, blew backward and took the chimney off its base, sending it crashing down through the building. Garry was involved in the subsequent rebuilding of the roof, chimney, and all internal damage.

“Claims that the original building was intended for the first US ambassador to Britain are unfounded.”

Michael Hill added: “My grandmother always referred to it as Villa Lugano. The name seems forgotten today. Thank you, Graham, for restoring my memories.”