Nostalgia: The secret history of Paignton Harbour

There was a small fishing community gathered round what is now Paignton Harbour long before the inland village of Paignton (known variously as Peinton in the Doomsday Book, Peynton in 1295 and later Paington) stretched down to the sea.

This expansion followed the coming of the railways in 1859 and changed Paignton and the surrounding area for ever.  The land between Old Paignton i.e. Winner Street and Church Street, and the sea was marshland and had to be drained before any building could start.  During the middle and late Victorian Age, Palace Ave, Victoria Street and Torbay Road were constructed  the face of Paignton changed for ever and the seaside town was born. 

In the meantime the harbour continued to flourish and to change with the times.  In the medieval era, and well before that, the little community around the Harbour survived on fishing and a small amount of trade.

  There were several cottages clustered around the Harbour some survive to this day and can be seen on the right as you walk toward the harbour.  A row of cottages further back was demolished when the Paignton Club was built. On the right-hand side of the harbour facing out to sea stands the old Coastguards cottage.

Thought to date from the late 18th century, in 1830 it became the first coastguards cottage and remained so for many years.  In the 1930s it was advertised as a holiday let for two and a half guineas a week in the winter and 10 Guinea’s a week in the summer. For many years the coastguard monitored the comings and goings around the harbour, going to the aid of people in trouble and trying, where possible to control the flourishing trade of smuggling.

Over the years the harbour has expanded.  In 1837 Two quays and a harbour wall were constructed for the sum of £3423,10. Business moved into the Harbour area and the sheds used for storage and for processing fish and crabs were present for many years

As the area grew shops were opened up notably a post office in 1938 run by Mr Chapman.  Cafes started to appear and the area began to look more like it does today.  Moving into the 1950s  the Holiday Trade was beginning to increase.  More and more people came to Torbay for their holidays giving rise to more facilities. 

Cafes and eating places grew in number and pleasure trips started taking people out fishing or sightseeing. Kiosks were situated around the harbour and visitors would have a choice of vessel at competitive prices.

Although the tourist trade has changed considerably, many people still come to the Paignton for their holidays and the area in and around the harbour is always busy.

Paignton Heritage Society have a vast archive and much more information on the Harbour past and present. To see this and learn more, visit Paignton Heritage Centre on the 1st floor of the library. Open 11am to 3pm on Monday, Thursday and Saturday the helpful and knowledgeable staff will do their best to find what you are looking for. 

Still very much a work in progress, Lee, our archivist, is working hard to produce an environment where it will be easy to find whatever information/documents visitors are looking for.

This is just one aspect of the work being carried out by the PHS.  Check out our website WWW.paigntonheritagesociety.co.uk for information on our monthly meetings talks and other activities. Regular history walks around Paignton are planned for the near future which promise to be fascinating. A Junior heritage group is starting in the Autumn. 

This is in the planning stage and any ideas or suggestions are welcome, particularly from children. Last, but certainly not least Kirkham House our medieval house in Kirkham Street Paignton is open a few more days this year.

The remaining Sundays in August and Bank Holiday Monday from 1pm to 4pm. The house is owned and maintained by English Heritage and managed on open days by PHS. Guided tours are available followed by a visit to the clink and the Bishops Tower.  Be warned! demand is high and to complete all three tours and visits its best to arrive by 3pm