Paignton in 1759

PAIGNTON IN 1759

Taken from "Brice's Grand Gazeteer" published in 1759

(The original spelling has been retained. There does not seem to have been a standardised spelling for this place name until the arrival of the Great Western Railway in 1860.)

PAYNTON

"Paynton, an antient village lying in the bosom of Torbay, is famous through several of our Western Counties, for its soils, producing, particularly, most excellent cabbage plants, wherewith all parts of the said counties chuse if they can, to be supply'd."

Payngton Sands

Painted at the end of the 18th century by William Payne

Paignton had other important assets even though its period of expansion was still half a century away. The local market was famous for its abundant supply of fresh fish and local produce grown on Paignton's rich red Devon soil, The giant cabbages were talked of far and wide but quantities of excellent cider were also produced in the neighbourhood and much of this found its way to other parts of the country on ships which sailed from its busy harbour.