About the Torbay Civic Society

The Torbay Civic Society is a charity that exists to make Torbay a better place to live, work, and visit. We care about the open spaces where children play, the buildings that tell the story of our towns, and the decisions that will shape Torbay for future generations.

We were founded in 1976, the year Agatha Christie died. Torbay's most famous daughter was born in Torquay and kept her holiday home at Greenway on the Dart, now a National Trust house that draws Christie readers from around the world.

We have been an active voice in the community ever since, monitoring local planning applications, commenting publicly on development proposals, and engaging with the economic and environmental decisions that affect everyone in the bay, all in accordance with the objectives set out in our Mission Statement.

Torbay's character comes from its setting, the natural bay and the seven hills on which the towns are built. Our aim is to see progress sit comfortably alongside our heritage, to restore what can be restored, and to ensure new buildings are sympathetic to their surroundings. We look after the Heritage Blue Plaques around Torbay and have recently added a Heritage Green Plaque initiative to recognise our finest green spaces. Our work covers both heritage and horticultural conservation, and we are part of a wider Civic Society movement across the United Kingdom.

Membership is open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, disability, or religion. There are no barriers to joining, and no prior knowledge of heritage or planning is needed. If you care about Torbay, you belong here.

We are also a genuinely sociable society. Our most popular event is a monthly update on what is going on in Torbay, including planning proposals, held on the last Friday of each month at the Palace Avenue Theatre in Paignton. Coffee is at 10am and the meeting starts promptly at 10.30am with a guest speaker. It is currently £4 for members and £5 for non-members, which includes coffee and biscuits.

Throughout the year we also organise additional events, so watch this space. They are informal, relaxed, and well attended, which makes it easy to meet new people and catch up with familiar faces.

You are welcome to come along to any of our events first, with no commitment. Membership is £10 for individuals and £15 for joint or partner membership, among the most affordable ways to play an active part in the future of Torbay.

Come Join Us and Help Make a Difference