IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
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An opportunity to feature a somewhat overlooked building, at the corner of Union Street and Trematon Avenue. The court opened in 1960 and closed on 1st September 2017. The majority of cases are now heard in Newton Abbot.

Another shot of the building shown in Image]; whatever becomes of it, it seems unlikely to retain its current appearance.

Entrance viewed across Union Street. Castle Chambers http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4064148 are on the left.

On 11th April, the flow of traffic along Union Street between Trematon Avenue (right here) and Laburnum Row, was reversed. For the previous three decades, it was a one-way street heading out of town; now traffic heads inwards. The new works in the foreground force traffic to turn right into Trematon Avenue. On the other side of the junction is Castle Chambers Image

Another view of the new paving works diverting traffic, shown in Image In the background here is the Magistrates' Court Image

A view of the church from the access lane which descends behind the Lymington Road car park.

One wonders why the church was named St Mary Magdalene? Given that Torquay was a holiday resort which may have attracted men and women of "easy virtue", this church might have been a silent reminder that redemption was available to such sinners, not only redemption, but elevation to beatitude. The spire is a fine one, pointing to the heavens and personifying rectitude. There were protests at the plan to build a second hotel in Torquay as it was argued that it would affect the moral character of the town. The population doubled in ten years between 1841 and 1851 from over five thousand to over ten thousand.

This fine church is described in Image Additional information: "The church was originally built to the designs of Anthony Salvin by Jacob Harvey (one of two builder brothers responsible for much of Torquay’s mid-Victorian development) in 1848-49 using coursed Torquay limestone rubble with dressings of Bath stone. The first of Torquay’s new parish churches its style, especially nave, tower and spire, is essentially Early English; the south transept tower and spire was completed in 1862. Salvin’s originally relatively plain work, is countered by an ornate High Victorian scheme – the work of Giles Gilbert Scott who altered and partly refitted the chancel in 1882 (riotous Pevsner) – and further early-20th century fittings which including Devonshire marbles, and an alabaster reredos, added in 1906, and in 1927 the date of the north-east chapel." Upton Conservation Area Character Appraisal - Torbay Council 2005 http://www.brixhamtowncouncil.gov.uk/upton_area_appraisal.pdf

This memorial is on the wall of the hall by the church. It refers to "This school" but does not name it. It was Upton National School and was originally where the Magistrates Court stands today Image In fact when the school was demolished the court building was built on the old foundations. The war memorial was later relocated to the external wall of the parish hall in 1956. The names are all in alphabetical order except for the addition of Alford, C at the end of the first column, Bowden, CJ, Blackler, J, and Palmer, P. As Alford and Palmer were clearly afterthoughts, I wonder why their names have not been repainted. And was Blackler's name added, and then removed? It has not been repainted, although Bowden's has. My thanks to fellow Geograph-er JohnC who added the information about the school and the court building.

This imposing Victorian limestone building on Higher Union Street, with a little octagonal turret, formerly housed the County Court offices. "1850 in origin, brought "up to date" 1892-93 ... Snecked local grey limestone with Bathstone and limestone ashlar dressings; gabled slate roofs." http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=390866&mode=adv It now has a variety of uses and occupants - there are flats, a language school, social organisations, and businesses.