This post is the second of two about Oldway Mansion in Paignton, Devon. This part focuses on the end of the Singer era, as the family who built it moved on or passed away. The photos show details of the current decayed state and the grounds. The dialogue covers the life of the mansion after it ceased to be the Singer family home. Part One the early history is here. Part Three The Singer Mausoleum is here.
In Part one we saw how Paris Singer moved out of the mansion in 1914 to create a war hospital for wounded soldiers. After the war, Paris kept an apartment at the mansion while the rest of the house and grounds were leased out as a gentleman's country club.
Torbay Express and South Devon Echo - Thursday 18 August 1927
MANY HELPERS
For Paignton Hospital Fete
Oldway lent itself admirably to the fete organised on behalf of the funds. The grounds are an undoubted feature of the fete and the stalls are erected along the shaded avenues and amongst the subtropical and Italian rock gardens.
Amongst other entertainments, visitors could guess the weight of a pig, have a go at a "cocoa nut shy", consult a scientific palmist (so much more reliable than an unscientific palmist), receive a skilful eyesight test or visit a gypsy encampment set up by the Paignton Girl Guides. There were a book stall, a basket stall, a cake stall and a parcel stall, a Marldon stall and a Collaton stall, not to mention a Photographic Stall, or there were home made sweets and preserves for the impulse buy. Puzzlingly, the 1st Paignton Co. Boys Brigade offered the chance to "Smash up the 'Appy 'Ome", so I'll leave that to the imagination, as Torbay Council would eventually do their best to finish off what was the 'appy 'ome of Oldway Manor, as we'll see.
Western Morning News - Tuesday 01 October 1929
LAWN TENNIS NOTED PLAYERS IN TORBAY COUNTRY CLUB TOURNEY
The annual autumn hard court tennis tournament of The Torbay Country Club was opened at Oldway, Paignton, yesterday, and will continue throughout the week. The president is Mr. Paris E. Singer, and Mr. C. W Coventry is again the referee and handicapper. Mr. Cecil A. Singer is the hon. treasurer, and Col. G. Lucas is the hon. secretary.
This is the view of Paignton from the end of the lawn and in the centre is the church which received so much financial support from the Singer family. You can see my post about St John the Baptist, Parish Church of Paignton here.
Aberdeen Evening Express - Wednesday 11 December 1918
Husband's Lapses.
CITATION PAPERS SERVED IN NEW YORK.
In the Divorce Court yesterday, before Mr Justice Coleridge, Cecilia Henrietta Augusta petitioned for dissolution of her marriage on the ground of the alleged desertion and misconduct of her husband Paris Singer, of Paignton (Devonshire) and London.
Petitioner stated that she married respondent at Hobart, Tasmania, and came with him to England, and they lived at Oldway House, and also in Kensington Court, London. Subsequently they lived in Sloane Street. There were five children, all grown up.
With a Young Lady.
In 1910 her husband left her, and she had not lived with him since. He had formed an affection for a young lady. Witness presented Petition for restitution of conjugal rights, but did not proceed with it, hoping her husband would come back, and she thought it better for the children's sake not to divorce him. The petition was dismissed this year.
Her husband got over the infatuation for the lady, but he formed an attachment for another, Miss Bates. He sent a communication to witness, saying he had formed a deep attachment for Miss Bates, and that he was living with her.
The young lady was Isadora Duncan, the world famous dancer. She moved in all the top artistic circles of France and that is where she met Paris's sister who had married a wealthy Frenchman. It was through his sister that Paris and Isadora met.
Isadora was never one to miss out on controversy and hit the papers again after she and Paris ended their affair.
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Saturday 10 March 1923
ISADORA DUNCAN.
RUSSIAN POET'S WIFE NO LONGER AN AMERICAN. Washington, Friday. Labour Secretary Davis announced today that Isadora Duncan the famous dancer, lost her American citizenship when she married Serge Essemine the Russian poet. Miss Duncan is now in Paris, and her husband is visiting Russia.
Western Mail - Tuesday 30 December 1924
ISADORA DUNCAN.
FRENCH BAN ON THE FAMOUS DANCER.
BERLIN. Monday.
The well-known dancer Isadora Duncan, who is now here and wants to go to Paris, has been refused a visa by the French authorities owing to her connection with the Bolsheviks.—Reuter.
Isadora Duncan has announced her intention to publish 1,000 love letters to relieve her financial embarrassment, although she admits that the publication would ruin many noted families.
Oldway Mansion by now was already on the verge of decline. Paris Singer although he had kept an apartment, was rarely seen as he had moved to Florida to escape British taxes. He lived between Florida, the south of France and London in his final years.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Friday 01 July 1932
MR. PARIS SINGER.
Death Causes Regret in Paignton District.
The news of the sudden death of Mr. Paris Singer in a London hotel was received in Paignton and South Devon generally with regret. He was the owner of a considerable property in the Paignton district, and had large interests in the town. He had been in bad health for the past few years. Since last year, when he cruised the Nile, to relieve insomnia, he had spent his time between his estate at St. Jean, Cap Ferrat, in the South of France, Paris, and London, but he was not well enough to return to Paignton, where he maintained a flat in his former mansion, now the Torbay Country Club.
The funeral took place at the Torquay Cemetery, the body being brought from London by road and interred in the Singer vault, where other members of the family had been laid to rest. A simple service in the Cemetery chapel, conducted Rev. E. A. Lane, preceded the interment, after which a Masonic oration was given by members of the Torbay Lodge Freemasons (No. 1358), of which, the late Mr. Singer was a member. The entrance to the vault and the chapel were decorated with moss and flowers. Among the wealth of flowers were tributes from the Torbay Country Club, members of the Oldway Estate Office staff, employees of the Oldway Estate, groundsmen at the Torbay Country Club, and the W.M. and brethren of Torbay Lodge of Freemasons.
Torbay Express and South Devon Echo - Thursday 02 December 1943
PRINCESS DE POLIGNAC
Torquay Funeral
The funeral took place at the Torquay Cemetery today of Princess Winnaretta Eugene Polignac, widow of Prince Edmond de Polignac who died suddenly in London on Friday last. The Princess was the only surviving child of late Mr Isaac Merritt Singer who formerly resided at the Oldway Mansion Paignton which he built, and who did so much for the development of the town as a health resort. The interment took place in the Singer mausoleum and was preceded by a requiem yesterday at the Church of the Immaculate Conception Farm-street London.
Western Morning News - Tuesday 19 December 1944
OLDWAY MANOR, PAIGNTON
Council To Consider Purchase
VITAL TO TOWN
The recommendation that Paignton should seriously consider buying Oldway Manor, originally the Paignton house of the Singer family, and later the Torbay Country Club, was made at yesterday's meeting of the Paignton Urban Council by. Mr. J. S. Huggins, chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee. The recommendation was accepted. It was vital, he said, to the interests of Paignton that this beautiful mansion and its 10 acres of land in the middle the town should be kept as it was.........
........On the assumption that vacant possession was obtained of the whole property, the basement floor could be used for purposes connected with outdoor recreational and catering facilities. The ground floor could house a Council Chamber and committee rooms, together with public and rest rooms, and the ballroom. There was sufficient room on the first and second floors to house all the Council departments......
....."Oldway," said Mr. Huggins, - "is not like a pound of tea. We can't just out and buy it. There are many things to enter into and difficulties to overcome. I ask therefore that we enter into negotiations with the district valuer, the Ministry of Health, and the Treasury.".......
First refusal of the estate was made to the local council as had been requested in the will of Paris Singer himself.
Good Morning - Thursday 26 April 1945
PAIGNTON (Devon) Urban Council have decided to buy for £45,000 (2024 £1.6 million) the Oldway Estate of houses and 19 acres in the town's centre of Paignton, the property of the Singer family. It was a condition of the will that Paignton should be given the first opportunity to buy when the estate came on the market. The mansion was built by the late Mr. Isaac Merrit Singer, inventor of the sewing machine, and in the last war was loaned by the late Mr. Paris Singer, his philanthropist son, to the American Red Cross as a hospital. In the grounds are two international bowling greens and sixteen tennis courts, home of the Torbay Country Club.
Everything must go, in the Paignton sale of the century. It's nothing like the declutter I did when I last moved house.
Western Morning News - Saturday 03 August 1946
OLDWAY MANSION. Paignton. S Devon.
lmportant SALE of FURNITURE to be Sold on the Premises, on August 7th. 8th. and 9th. at Eleven a.m Each Day.
Including: 6 French Empire armchairs, gilt, with seats and oval backs, upholstered in leather and an Empire library table, 7ft X 3ft 6in ; A number of marble and ormolu clock sets, bronzes by F. Barbedienne, marble statues by A. Carrier and others, mahogany chairs, three old Norman cupboards in oak and walnut;
Axminster, Wilton, and Turkey carpets. China, Including Sevres and Coalport, a quantity of cut-glass, two French liqueur cabinets, oil paintings and engravings, one oil painting by Pannini, some very fine lustre electric chandeliers, several plaster and marble busts of French nobility, mahogany bow-front chests, antique powder table, 8ft. hall stand, three massive walnut sideboards.
French gilt serving and side tables, superb gilt corner cabinet, massive dining and kitchen tables, large French salon mirror, inlaid mahogany writing table, three very fine ebonised and gilt bookcases, 6ft. wide by 11ft. high: 5ft- ebonised and gilt kneehole desk, massive walnut and other wardrobes, oak and maple wood bedroom suite.
Bohemian glass lustres, rosewood secretaire, French writing bureau, upright pianoforte. 5 large Japanese screens, very fine 6ft white marble statue of a woman playing a flute, on a marble base; two full-size Thurston billiard tables, with complete equipment: badminton equipment, cork lino billiard table surrounds, and a large number of other interesting lots, including an Egyptian mummy. The furniture and furnishings are in the main of the French Empire period, and the sale creates an opportunity for those wishing to acquire such.
Auctioneers: WAYCOTTS. 51, Victoria-street ('phone 5251) Paignton, from whom catalogues price 1s each may be obtained and at Fleet-street Torquay.
On view August 6th. from Ten am to Five p m. and morning of sale from 9 30 o'clock.
Brixham Western Guardian - Thursday 26 December 1946
NEW CIVIC CENTRE AT PAIGNTON Oldway Mansion Opened By Lady Leeds TOWN's FORESIGHT.
"If you had engaged an eminent architect and given him carte blanche, regardless of expense, much as we did to Prof. Abercrombie at Plymouth, you could not have produced anything better than this," was the high tribute the Lord Mayor of Plymouth (Mr. W. H. Taylor) paid at the opening on Wednesday of Oldway, Paignton, as municipal offices and a sports centre, who added, "Plymouth never had anything like this"
The magnificent mansion and more than I 9 acres of ground laid out for bowling, tennis, croquet, and other sports, was recently acquired by the the Council for £46,000.
The opening ceremony was performed by Lady Leeds, a grand-daughter of Mr. Isaac Singer (the former owner of Oldway). The civic party, grouped under the famous painting of the "Crowning of Josephine," included the Chairman of the Urban Council. Mr. G. Stabb and Mrs. Stabb.....
......Lady Leeds said they would understand if she said her feelings on this occasion were rather mixed. She had so many happy memories bound up in the building. Almost all her early memories went back to this house and its gardens. She remembered it as her grandfather built it, and remembered the alterations made with such enthusiasm by her father.
GOING TO FRANCE.
She remembered the construction of the great hall and staircase and the paintings on the ceilings, and how as children their eyes popped when they were told that the gold leaf used, contained the real metal. It was a miniature Versailles as so many had called it. "In this connection," said her Ladyship "this great picture of the Crowning of Josephine by Napoleon, by Master David, is in the process of being acquired by the French Government, and as soon as the Bank of England will allow its export, it will hang in the real Versailles in the place it was intended to occupy, and which until this moment remained vacant. - Leeds was thanked by Mr. T. S. Sharp. vice-chairman of The Council, who said they now had a municipal centre in keeping with the dignity of the town.
Western Morning News - Wednesday 04 June 1947
Studio For Paignton ?
It will be interesting to see what public reaction there is to establish a film production studio on buildings forming part of the Oldway Estate, Paignton, recently purchased by the town from the Singer family.
The Rotunda is a very substantial building of brick and stone separated from the mansion by the width of the courtyard. It was erected about 73 years ago as a stabling and exercising pavilion, and in the middle of the central arena is a swimming bath which is normally covered by a wooden floor. Around are spacious rooms with toilets and dressing accommodation and there are two residential flats on the floor above.
Nearby and interconnected is the former banqueting hall, more recently used as two badminton courts, and underneath a fair sized garage and stabling for 18 horses. Possibilities for use as a film studio are obvious, but there is bound be a little disappointment that buildings which might have been of considerable use other ways will not be available. It appears that Paignton will have to choose between a studio with all its possibilities or a centre which was formerly described as ideal for housing an exhibition.
Western Morning News - Thursday 16 September 1948
FIRST OLDWAY FILM—ABOUT OLDWAY
Shows Facilities At Paignton
Local councillors, officials, and business people, numbering about 100, saw the first motion picture produced at Oldway Studios, Ltd., at the Picture House, Paignton, yesterday. The film, which shows construction work in progress at the studios, indicates how well the building, a lofty rotunda, is suited for picture making, and contains some fine shots of the lovely grounds and mansion house at Oldway.
The sub-tropical luxuriance of the surrounding countryside is also shown, and it pointed out what a variety of ideal film locations exist in the immediate neighbourhood of Paignton. Produced and directed by the managing director of Oldway Studios, Mr. F. W. Baker, the film had its first showing at Manchester last week. Mr. Baker said Oldway Studios anticipated making nine pictures a year at first, and eventually would be turning out 15 pictures a year. Mr. F. E. Craze, chairman of Paignton Urban Council, expressed confidence in the success of the project and declared it would be a wonderful asset to Paignton. The film will be shown to independent exhibitors at Bristol next week.
Torbay Today - 26th April 2024
Oldway and Pavilion - going, going but not gone!
Torbay Council are on the lookout for partners to help restore two of the resort's historic gems back to their former glory. Torbay has secured £105million investment from the Government in the form of Levelling Up, Town Deal and Future High Street Funding. This is alongside a share of £200m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to transform the Bay’s heritage.
Oldway Mansion, a Grade II listed building, represents an exciting development opportunity, says the Town Hall. Following extensive public consultation and in line with overwhelming public support, the Council’s aspiration is to enable the estate to be returned to a community-focused health, wellbeing, and creative hub within a historic setting.
Torbay Today - 16th May 2024
Oldway Mansion thrown £8 million lifeline. The focus will be on the remedial work to secure key parts of the building and further funding to re-open more of the mansion. The latest package of regeneration support from the Government has been announced for the first time and includes £8million for the first phase of the Oldway Masterplan to breathe new life into the iconic building.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Oldway Mansion but there does now appear to be more positive news on the horizon.
I have made a short post about the Singer Tomb in Torquay Cemetery, with some details of the memorial panels of all the family members buried there, together with some details of the floral designs carved in white marble.
I have also made a comprehensive history post about The Redcliffe Towers, former home of Paris Singer.
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