Oldway Mansion

 Horse exercise house with pool!

 Maids quarters?

 Side view

 A little closer to side view

 Stunning stone work

 Love the columns

 Rear View  (not my photo)

Fabulous interior (not my photo)

Display of Singer sewing machines (Photo taken with glass in door)

After the nostalgic Brixham Harbour visit we started to make our way back home & had to go back into Paignton. For some years we had heard about a Mansion call Oldway Mansion Ros noticed a sign for it so it was a short detour & we were not disappointed.

The original house was commissioned in the 1870s by Isaac Merritt Singer, founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Paris Eugene Singer, Isaac Singer’s third son, who supervised alterations to Isaac’s original house between 1904 and 1907. The rebuilding work was inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Please look at the link to the web site my photos does not do the place justice it is wonderful. Sadly ended up as council offices until recently!!

As I had just parked up we met a couple who relocated to South Devon 10 years ago from the Midlands yes I could tell by their accent! anyway struck up a conversation with them like all good Midlanders we talk to anyone :-) they told us yes it was council offices until recently & last week was a open day to the public which they visited  missed it by a week :( but the good news was the whole building is being restored to it's former glory the gardens had been maintained regularly & most of the interior was still original apart from the office strip lights!

We all had a nice walk around the house & gardens & because it is 24/7 security I was only able to take a photo of the sewing machine display from a distance through a glass door. Like Ros said maybe once the restoration has been done it will be again open for viewing fingers crossed it is. 

We then had lunch & was the start of the drive back home via the coast route via Teighmouth to Exeter then home.

Brixham Harbour

 Lobster pots ready to be loaded

 The main harbour

It was the last day of our three day two night stay, Ros & I as children had been to Brixham with our parents & it has been such a long time we had not visited. Brings back so many childhood memories & know why I love to live by the sea. Brixham is a true large fishing harbour with so many working boats yet it still holds the quaint coloured terraced houses which look into the small harbour the main one in over the sea wall. Just watching the guy repair his nets in the traditional way made me smile. The restaurants were full of fresh crab meals, shops were selling different variety of shell fish & the fish & chips shops were doing a roaring trade with sightseers & day trippers. We all had a walk around the town  but sadly we were running out of time & it was time to head back home.

Goodrington Sands & Steam Train

As a child stayed in Goodrington many time with my Mum & Dad but because Dad could not drive we stayed mainly on the beach so this was one place we had to visit. We travelled back home on this day & was a cloudy & a little colder with strong winds but what was a joy was seeing Hercules the South Devon steam train go by when sat having lunch.

Totnes

After the visit to Stoke Cabriel drove to this fabulous small town called Totnes my photos does not do this town justice it is stunning, trendy great variety of shops & wonderful atmosphere would have like to have stopped longer, but after purchasing  various items of food & wine from Riverford organics it was time to drive back to the Travel Lodge have a shower & chill out.

Stoke Gabriel near Totnes

After the visit to Greenway because it was such a lovey sunny day did a visit to Stoke Gabriel They call it the jewel on the River Dart never visited this village & as we were on out way to Totnes had to stop for a look around heard & seen lovely blog posts from friends Tim & Julie who stayed in a cottage on the estuary can understand why they have been there two years in a row very peaceful & relaxing.

 This vintage bus runs from the ferry point to the house

 What a view

 Boat trip on river Dart Estuary

 View from the boat house with plunge pool underneath

The balcony at the point house

Thursday 17th October we had arranged a visit to Greenway The relaxed and atmospheric house is set in the 1950s, when Agatha Christe and her family would spend summers and Christmases here with friends, relaxing by the river, playing croquet and clock golf, and reading her latest mystery to their guests. Was another stunning weather day with an excellent visit.

Paignton Travel Lodge

 Looking towards Torquay

Looking over to Brixham with Paignton pier on right

 Kingswear I think? but what a view

View from Travel Lodge window

We are always very pleased with Travel Lodge stays got everything you want, loo shower/bath, double bed, TV, kettle & wi-fi but have to pay for that if you have it in your room. They also allow doggie the place is only 2 minutes from the beach, the only problem we had was we thought we had a herd of elephants above us at times. Like Ros said we are spoiled at home being detached but it still was a brilliant stay.