Oldway
Mansion is a well known local landmark, used by the local council
and is registered for marriage ceremonies. A beautiful building with
lovely grounds, it is well worth a visit. Oldway Mansion can be found
on the Torquay (A3022) to Paignton road, about 1/2 mile from Paignton
town centre and just past Manor Road going toward Paignton. There
are 60 free car parking spaces and 2 Coach parking spaces.
Oldway
Mansion History
In
1871 this Grand [grade 2 listed] 100 roomed mansion was purchased
by Issac Merritt Singer, the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine
Company. He then started to build a huge new mansion. Issac Merritt
Singer died on July 23rd 1875 aged 63. His funeral was one of the
largest of its time in the Torbay area. When he died he had 22 living
children, various wives, both legal and common law.
It
was Paris Singer his third son who later altered and built onto ‘Oldway
Mansion’.
The
building was modelled on the ‘Palace of Versailles’ with
other areas inspired by the ‘Place de la Concorde’ in
Paris. The grand staircase and gallery all of marble, balusters of
bronze,& marble pillars with gilding, are a wonder to behold,
as is the most awe inspiring Italian School painted ceiling, by Lebrun.
Between
the dual staircase is a huge painting replica, “ The Crowning
of Josephine by Napoleon” by Lebrun. The original which was
sold by Torbay Borough Council, now hangs in the Palace of Versailles.
The
Gallery is a miniature reproduction of the “ Hall of Mirrors
“ in Versailles, and is floored in parquet. From the Gallery
the Ballroom can be entered. The walls are of gilt panelling and mirrors,the
floors are of sprung parquet for ease of dancing. On the wall hangs
an oil Painting of Louis of Bourbon. The ballroom nowadays is used
as the Council Chambers, and for a variety of other events.
The
Grounds were laid out originally by a well known French Landscape
Architect “ Duchesne”. He included the beautiful “
Grotto Gardens”, where a waterfall showers down over cave like
rocks into a pool below. The whole area is surrounded by sub-tropical
plants and shrubs. This feature still remains today.
The
mansion stands in 17 acres of gardens, which partly today are still
laid out formally on an Italian theme. The Maze garden with its dwarf
box hedging , beautifully shaped flower beds, and topiaried trees,
must not be missed.
On
going up the drive and through into the car park, a large round building
can be seen to the right of the Mansion, this is known as The Rotunda.
It was built in 1873, and was used when originally built as a riding
pavilion, and exercise area. It had a removable wooden floor that
was removed in order to ride the horses. The Singer Family with their
colourful background and fame [but that is another story], did not
use ‘Oldway’ as their permanent family home after 1918.
With Paris Singers break-up of the love affair with Isadora Duncan
the famous dancer in 1917, and the fact that it was cheaper tax wise
for him to live in America, he became an American citizen.
In September 1914 ‘Oldway’was used as a hospital- The
American Woman’s war relief hospital. Even the Rotunda was converted
to House rows of beds for the wounded soldiers being brought back
to England from the trenches of France and Belgium in the 1914-1918
War. In the November of 1914. Queen Mary visited Oldway Hospital.
1940
saw the II World War, and again Oldway was used in the war effort
by housing the RAF. It was used as a training wing for RAF Cadets
learning to be aircrew. In 1943 there was an air raid on the town
of Paignton,and Oldway with no exception was damaged, along with many
other properties in the town.
Nowadays
Torbay Borough Council occupy the Mansion which was purchased from
the Singer family for £45,000 in 1946. A modest amount considering
the approximate cost of the building originally
Being around £200,000 for Issac Merritt Singers “ Dream
Home”.
It
is also possible to be married in the beautiful old building, since
the register office for the area is housed at Oldway Mansion too.
Conducted
tours are £1.00( OAP’s 0.75p) small children go Free.
The
hours of opening are 9am - 5pm all yr round. In the Summer Sundays
2pm-5pm.
7
Tennis Courts Grass 6 Courts Macadam 2 Tennis Courts Floodlight: Telephone
01803 20796
There
is also a café for refreshments.
Weddings:
If you are considering getting married at Oldway Mansion then visit
this link 
To
get there by Bus:
Frequent
Stagecoach services Nos 120,121,122 from Torquay. There are regular
services from Paignton Bus Station ask the driver to drop you at Oldway
Mansion. Further South West, Plymouth Citybus: tel 01752 222221 Western
National: tel 01752 222666. Stagecoach Devon 01803 664500
