Queen Victoria nearly visits Torquay again

QUEEN VICTORIA NEARLY VISITS TORQUAY IN 1846

from a description by Arthur Ellis

Babbacombe Bay

from a water colour made at the beginning of the 20th century

In August 1846, Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort, together with the Prince of Wales embarked on a yachting cruise around the British Isles.In 1843, a new steam-driven royal yacht, the Victoria and Albert, had been launched in Pembroke - a far cry from the tiny, towed vessel in which the young Princess Victoria had arrived in Torquay with her mother all those years ago.

HMY Victoria and Albert

Courtesy of Steve Johnson

Victori and Albert was a twin paddle steamer launched 25 April 1843. It was built for the personal use of the Sovreign. for whom it was owned and operated by the Royal Navy.

They paid a fleeting visit to Babbacombe Bay, remaining forjust one hour. Her Majesty wrote in her journal:

"We steamed past various places till we came to Babbacombe, a small bay where we remained an hour. It is a beautiful spot which before we had only passed at a distance. Red cliffs and rocks with wooded hills like Italy, and reminding one of a ballet or play where nymphs appear - such rocks and grottos with the deepest sea on which there was no ripple. We intended to disembark and walk up the hill, but it came on to rain very much. We proceeded on our cruise again at half past one o'clock and saw Torquay very plainly, which is very fine."

The royal party's yacht was accompanied by the tender HMS Fairy and the steamship HMS Black Eagle, the vessel used by the Board of Admiralty when accompanying her Majesty on those occasions when she reviewed the fleet. William Spreat made a steel engraving of the three vessels at anchor on that day - quite an achievement when the entire visit lasted only an hour.

HMS Victoria and Albert, HMS Fairy and HMS Black Eagle in Babbacombe Bay

from a steel engraving by William Spreat.

From the Torquay Directory:

"On Thursday the 20th at noon, the royal standard was signalled off Babbicombe, the steamers having coasted round the shore with in a short distance of Sidmouth - endeared to Her Majesty, as the last residence of her honoured father, Exmouth, Dawlish and Teignmouth. It had been Her Majesty's intention to have landed at Babbacombe and to have explored the beautiful grounds of Mrs. Whitehead, and the romantic scenery of that beautiful hamlet, and thence to have driven into Torquay; the weather, however, proved too boisterous, so the yachts proceeded to Torbay, sweeping round within a short distance of Torquay pier and thence to Brixham and Dartmouth, where the royal party remained on board during the night.

The suddenness of Her Majesty's arrival precluded the possibility of making any preparations for her reception. Even the universal resources for honouring and annoying royalty was wanting, not a popgun nor a charge of powder could be procured until her Majesty was fairly out of shot; the volley from the Beacon reached not the royal ear, and her Majesty, remarking upon the omission, provokingly observed that Torquay was the only sensible place upon the coast.!"

On the 21st, the party proceeded to Plymouth, remaining until the night of Sunday August 23rd, when the vessels set off on their return journey to Cowes.

The Queen took the opportunity to visit Cotehele, an ancient and beautiful estate on the banks of the Tamar. The Fairy landed at the little jetty there and the Queen was driven up to the house. While this was happening, Prince Albert drove out to Princetown to inspect the naptha works which at this time was used to light the prison using peat from the moor. When the royal pair returned in the evening, sailors on board the royal yacht danced and sang sea songs to entertain them.

Sailors dancing for Victoria and Albert - Plymouth 1846