Torre Abbey

Torre Abbey is a historic building and an art center in the southern English seaside town of Torquay. It was built in 1196 as a monastery and was from 1662 to 1930 residence of the influential family Cary. In addition to the monastic ruins, the aristocratic living rooms and gardens Torre Abbey is home to the third largest art collection in the county of Devon as well as regular exhibitions of contemporary artists.

History

Torre Abbey was founded in 1196 by six Canons of the Premonstratensian Order from the Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire. The corresponding plot of land donated by Lord William Brewer. The revenue from the lands did the Monastery end of the 15th century the most prosperous of its kind in England. This Torquay even received a proper port. During the Reformation, Henry VIII caused the dissolution of the English monasteries, whereupon the abbey several times its changed owners until it was bought in 1662 by the family of Cary, who resided there for six generations. Despite her Catholic religion, the family had Cary as landowners significant influence on the development of the region. In its time, the monastery building was extended in the Georgian style. Achieved historic importance, the associated medieval tithe barn "Spanish Barn", in 1588 a fortnight 397 crew members of the Spanish Armada were imprisoned. During the Great Depression, the family saw Cary 1930 forced to sell Torre Abbey to the city council of Torquay. Since then, the abbey was used as a public art gallery. Following a £ 6.5 million refurbishment expensive Torre Abbey was re-opened in July 2008.

Art Exhibitions

The permanent exhibition focuses on paintings from the 19th century. These include works of national importance such as those of William Blake and the Pre-Raphaelite William Holman Hunt ( The Children 's Holiday ) and Edward Burne -Jones. In addition, Torre Abbey is home to the largest surviving collection of the sculptor Frederick Thrupp. At regular exhibitions of works by contemporary artists are presented. International significant were here in 2009 and 2010 Antony Gormley's Field Damien Hirst's Mother and Child, Divided. Taking place in the summer of each year exhibition TACO ( Torre Abbey Contemporary Open) is primarily dedicated to artists from the South West England region.