Torquay seafront Pavilion, pier and gardens were vision of just one man

The stories behind Torbay's blue plaques by Ian Handford, chairman of Torbay Civic Society. This week: Major Henry Garrett

Borough engineer Henry Garrett was ultimately responsible for creating the Pavilion and other public buildings in Torquay.

Henry Augustus Garrett was born in 1859 and by age 20, was appointed assistant surveyor to Bournemouth Council. By 1890, he had moved to Torquay after being appointed harbour engineer and surveyor and soon discovered his adopted town was ripe for expansion, already accepted as a leading watering spa of the South West.

Prior to his arrival, the council had applied to parliament for permission to construct a pier - 'Torquay Pier and Harbour Provisional Order Bill' was made law on August 7, 1888.

The Princess Pier foundation stone was laid by Princess Louise, the then Princess Royal and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, on May 5, 1890, and with a Pavilion in mind, the major storms of 1891 involved massive expenditure as the nearby groins had to be replaced before the esplanade, pier and a Pavilion could emerge.

On arrival, Henry quickly investigated piers at rival resorts and in October 1891, informed councillors they should build a pier. A second Bill was laid before parliament and the Provisional Order of 1892 was approved by council on May 17, 1893.

Meanwhile, Henry was designing the Royal Terrace Gardens - today Princess Gardens and the Terrace Walk - seeing these as emphasising a new pier.

Work was completed in 1895 and was recognised as Henry's vision of ambience and style ensuring the town was seen as the Queen of the English Riviera.

He also wanted a covered promenade but having witnessed blocking motions at council, it took him five more years before a public meeting for a Pavilion was held at the Torbay and Cumpers Hotel on January 27, 1899, which reported 'that in the opinion of this meeting it is advisable that a building should be provided in this town wherein musical and other entertainments may be given for the recreation of visitors and residents'.

Henry was more a civil engineer than architect and so concentrated on reclaiming the tidal muddy area of the inner harbour, holding back his covered Esplanade. Unfortunately, because there was never a clear vision of why a Pavilion was even needed - the same problem today - even after Henry offered a roller skating rink, the idea remained just that - an idea.

Concerts, meanwhile, were held under canvass in a bandstand on the now new Pier but as the resort was expanding rapidly, Henry's caseload of work was astonishing.

He even built a refuse destructer at Upton Valley while working on the Esplanade Road between Torbay Hotel and Dyers Cottage, the old toll house, which was completed in 1898.

The Pavilion Theatre foundation stone was laid by Mayor Alderman Col. C.H. Spragge on July 26, 1911, just in time as a year later Henry had enlisted - the First World War imminent.

He joined the army as a G.R.E in Plymouth before being transferred to Salisbury headquarters as officer in charge of roads and communications at Southern Command. Later, he became a Major in the Royal Engineers, a role he retained after the war.

On return to Torquay in 1918, Major Garrett found the workload was huge, his first priority creating new estates of homes at Westhill, Windmill Hill, Stentiford Hill and Barton while completing the last stage of the Torre Abbey walkway.

That took him until June 1928 and, today, his memorial stone can still be read as part of the granite wall at the far end of the promenade.

After decades of public service, residents did not forgot our public servant as after Henry retired in 1930, he was given a special award.

Major Henry Augustus Garrett, 40 years serving as an engineer, surveyor and architect for Torquay, died at the age of 73 in Kingsdale, Babbacombe Road in May 1934.

He left an unmarried daughter, who had been living with him plus a married daughter who lived in St Austell, Cornwall. His wife had died one year previous.