This is another Legendary Ten Seconds production, principally about the ancient building in Torquay, but it is one track on an album about the wider history of Torbay. Torre Abbey, which dated from about 1096, was dissolved without significant resistance in 1539 and is principally an art gallery as well as part of the Agatha Christie Mile. The cloisters are in good condition although the church is ruined.
Some of the other tracks narrate the foundation of the Abbey and William of Orange’s landing in 1688, among other things:
The Pageant of Torbay Part One
- The Torquay Pageant Part One
- Torre Abbey
- William of Orange
- The Billy Ruffian
- Riots in Torquay
- Torre Station
- The Wonderful Paignton Pudding
- Patent 8294
- The Torquay Regatta
- Buffalo Bill in Torquay
- Arnold’s White Feather
- Agatha Heads off East
- The Lady Cable
- The Funk Hole Myth
- The Theatre of Pain
Inspired by a David Hinchcliffe lecture at Torquay museum about the Torquay Pageant of 1924.
Produced and mixed by Lord Z at Otherworld Studios, Marldon Devon
Recorded in Torquay, Marldon, Kingsteignton and Madron.
All songs composed by Ian Churchward except tracks 1 & 9 composed by Elaine & Ian Churchward, and track 7 composed by Ian Churchward & Bridgit England.
Thank you to the following
Ian Churchward vocals, guitars, mellotron and mandola
Lord Zarquon mellotron and other keyboards, bass guitar, and drums
Bridgit England vocals, keyboards and violin
Phil Swann 6 and 12 string guitars, and slide guitar
Sam Swann bass guitar on tracks 4, 5 and 15
Guy Bolt drums on track 15
Elaine Churchward vocals
Illustration Graham Moores
Richard the Third Records catalogue number R12
The Torquay Pageant Part One
A passion for the past took the counties over
With historical pageants from Sherborne to Dover
In a seaside town in nineteen twenty four
There was a pageant it had not had one before
Off to Rock End gardens
In the June sunshine
To enjoy the pageant
To have a jolly time
Now Mister Arthur Aplin a hero from the war
He was the pageant master his novels I adore
A playwright and an actor he knew a thing or two
He said to the town now it’s up to you
Off to Rock End gardens
In the June sunshine
To enjoy the pageant
To have a jolly time
Vice Admiral McCully happened to be in Torbay
He opened the pageant during his short stay
Off to Rock End gardens
In the June sunshine
To enjoy the pageant
To have a jolly time
Now the pageant is forgotten and few will ever know
Of the many thousands who enjoyed the show
Yes the pageant is forgotten and few will ever know
Of the many thousands who enjoyed the show
Torre Abbey
An abbot from Welbeck Abbey
Arrived on the shores of Torbay
William Briwere had gifted some land
Thanks for the safe return of his son
For the monks Torre Abbey was made
And throughout the day they prayed
Many gifts and bequests were received
And their faith in God they truly believed
On the west side a cruciform church
The buildings around a courtyard
Built on a Benedictine plan
Beer limestone for the arcades
For the monks Torre Abbey was made
And throughout the day they prayed
Many gifts and bequests were received
And their faith in God they truly believed
The monks made sure that the poor were fed
Looked after the folk in Torbay
A genuine holy cast of mind
Destroyed by a tyrant King
Because of King Henry the abbeys dissolved
To take all their wealth he was resolved
King Henry the Eighth the great evil King
Great misery he would surely bring
William of Orange
With many ships and many men
William sailed for Torbay
This made James think again
When his fleet was evaded
And his realm was invaded
For to take the crown
Yes the English crown
William had been persuaded
James took a second wife
Mary of Modena
To help his Catholic life
Sound judgement was evaded
And his realm was invaded
For to take the crown
Yes the English crown
William had been persuaded
In fog and mist along the English coast
William came to Brixham
James feared him the most
And bloodshed was evaded
When England was invaded
For to take the crown
Yes the English crown
William had been persuaded
A Foolish King James the Second
To be Catholic he had reckoned
Would convert England back to Rome
But due to this he lost his throne
Go to Brixham and you will see
A statue of white marble
William of Orange on the quay
The smells can’t be evaded
And the tourists have invaded
But don’t frown
At the seagull for his crown
Where history was created
Oh no don’t frown
At the seagull for his crown
Where history was created
The Billy Ruffian
Aboard the Billy Ruffian
From France to Torbay
With the prisoner Napoleon
Such fame had come their way
Aboard the Billy Ruffian
From France to Torbay
Her hull was made of English oak
More than three thousand felled
Named the Bellerophon
And her keel was made of of elm
Aboard the Billy Ruffian
Arriving in Torbay
With Napoleon Bonaparte
And in England he hoped to stay
Aboard the Billy Ruffian
Arriving in Torbay
Of battles she had several
The bravest of the brave
Part of the Royal Navy
And England they would save
Sightseers came from Exeter
To gather in the bay
They’d come to see Napoleon
Get a glimpse of him that day
Aboard the Northumberland
Departing from Torbay
With the prisoner Napoleon
To exile he was on his way
Aboard the Northumberland
Departing from Torbay
Goodbye to the Bellerophon
And her claim to fame
The crew stripped her of everything
And a prison she became
Goodbye to the Bellerophon
And her claim to fame
murreyandblue 
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