How Paignton’s Victoria Park transformed from marshland to green haven

Victoria Park in Paignton was laid out for the benefit and recreation of local people. The land, which had originally been marshland, needed to be drained. Until fairly recently it was not unknown for the ground to be very wet underfoot in bad weather; now, luckily, that is no longer the case.

Over the years there have been many changes; the bandstand, which stood on the green nearest Torquay Road, has long gone. On the green near the seafront there was a covered shelter and seating area near the pond, also now gone.

Before the car park was built at the back of the park, the area was a coach park, and in the summer that is where many of our visitors arrived and got their first glimpse of Paignton.

The children’s play area has changed a great deal, now much safer, many would say less exciting. It has been fully enclosed, and the surface has been upgraded to a safer material. Older readers will remember the roundabouts, swings, and slides that used to be there, most notorious the Umbrella, or Witches Hat, as some called it, which can be seen in the picture below. Many of us remember falling off as it spun round at high speed. If we didn’t fall off ourselves, we certainly knew someone else who had.

Above: Kiddies Section. Victoria Park

The other place well known to children for falling off, or in, was the boating lake. Now a home to ducks and swans, in the past it was a place to sail a boat. Generally, this involved the boat not quite coming back to the edge of the pond and inevitably falling in as you reached to get it.

Much more genteel were the nine tennis courts. Very popular with locals and visitors alike, it was necessary to book a court in advance. There was a booking office near the courts together with changing rooms. White was generally the colour to wear when playing tennis. Unlike today, when trainers are made of sturdier stuff, tennis shoes were lighter, and it was necessary to re-whiten them frequently with something resembling white paste and then leave them to dry.

Paignton Heritage Society has a vast archive of old photos of the area that will shortly be on display to the public at our new centre in Paignton Library. The centre will be open in early February.

The society has regular meetings and talks throughout the year. Held at Gerston Chapel, Torquay Road, Paignton, starting at 7 pm. Talks are on the third Thursday of the month, with the next one scheduled for 16th January when John Risdon will give a talk entitled The History of Galmpton Creek. Entry is £5, which includes tea and coffee. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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