Editing Torquay (section)

==Economy==
===Tourism===
[[File:torquaypavilion.jpg|thumb|Torquay Pavilion, with St John's Church in the background and a cabbage tree in the foreground]]
[[File:TorquayEvening09.jpg|thumb|left|Torquay from Torre Abbey Sands]]
[[File:Torquay Harbour.JPG|thumb|Torquay Harbour]]

Torquay has numerous tourist attractions, including Kents Cavern, Britain's most important [[Stone Age]] site, which was home to early humans for some 40,000 years. The floor is composed of several strata, with remains indicating the prehistoric coexistence there of humans and extinct animals. [[John MacEnery|The Rev. J. McEnery]] explored the cave between 1825 and 1829, and put forth the coexistence theory. The cave was extensively explored from 1865 to 1880 by [[William Pengelly]], who found evidence to support McEnery's hypothesis. The caves have attracted many famous people, among them [[Agatha Christie]],<ref name="agatha-christie-autobiography">{{cite book |last=Christie |first=Agatha |year=1977 |title=An Autobiography |publisher=Collins |isbn=0-00-216012-9}}</ref> [[Beatrix Potter]], [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]] and [[Haile Selassie]] who was so impressed with his visit that he gave his guide, Leslie Powe a gold sovereign.

On the seafront between the Rock Walk and the Marina is the Victorian Pavilion (pictured). The adjacent "Friends Fountain" complements the Victorian architecture. Just to the side of the fountain in Princess Gardens, directly next to Princess Theatre,  is the English Riviera Wheel; a 100 foot high wheel that offers a unique birds eye view of the English Riviera, overlooking Torquay Harbour from a rare perspective.<ref>{{cite web |title=English Riviera Wheel |url=https://www.englishriviera.co.uk/things-to-do/english-riviera-wheel-p1421913 |website=English Riviera: The Official Tourism Website |publisher=English Riviera BID Company |access-date=5 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190550/https://www.englishriviera.co.uk/things-to-do/english-riviera-wheel-p1421913 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Torquay Museum]], the oldest in Devon, was founded in 1844, by The Torquay Natural History Society.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us |publisher=Torquay Museum |url=http://www.torquaymuseum.org/default.asp?categoryID=2 |access-date=3 April 2008|archive-date=31 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131115329/http://www.torquaymuseum.org/default.asp?CategoryID=2 |url-status=live}}</ref> The museum contains extensive geology, natural science, archaeology and ethnography collections of international importance, including the oldest fossil evidence of modern man in north-west Europe. The story of the English Riviera Geopark is told through exhibitions about geology, fossils and archaeology including artefacts from Kents Cavern and other local archaeology. The museum has galleries dedicated to diverse topics such as the life of Agatha Christie, [[ancient Egypt]], explorers and ecology. Another gallery displays replica historic farmhouse interiors.<ref>{{cite web |title=See the Museum |publisher=Torquay Museum |url=http://www.torquaymuseum.org/default.asp?categoryID=1 |access-date=3 April 2008 |archive-date=31 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131115344/http://torquaymuseum.org/default.asp?categoryID=1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1857, the [[Torquay Marine Spa|Bath's Saloons complex]] was built on the promontory overlooking Beacon Cove. This included a ballroom, concert hall and sunlit conservatory and private bathing facilities with, underneath, a large public swimming bath open to the sea. [[Living Coasts]], a coastal zoo owned by [[Paignton Zoo]], was later built on the site of the complex. The stone arches of the public bath were incorporated into the shop at Living Coasts. Development of the site as a marine animal exhibit was first proposed in early 1999 in response to a call from Torbay Council for submissions from interested parties. The project, developed by Kay Elliott architects, included an exhibit to house marine birds, rather than fish, due to the need to avoid duplicating the exhibits at the [[National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth|National Marine Aquarium]] in [[Plymouth]]. The project was subsequently taken on by Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and named Living Coasts. It was announced in June 2020 that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was to close permanently.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 June 2020 |title=Zoo to close due to lockdown impact |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-53052526|access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-date=22 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622121301/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-53052526 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Other attractions are the [[Babbacombe Model Village]], which opened in 1963, the [[Babbacombe Theatre]] which opened in 1939 and the [[Princess Theatre, Torquay|Princess Theatre]]. A large tethered balloon offering aerial views of the town operated for several years until it was destroyed by strong winds in January 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.englishriviera.co.uk/things-to-do |title=Things to Do in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham |publisher=Visit English Riviera |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415120738/https://www.englishriviera.co.uk/things-to-do |url-status=live}}<br>- {{cite web |date=11 July 2013 |title=Legal fight begins over £50,000 Torquay balloon cash |work=Torquay Herald Express |url=http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Legal-fight-begins-pound-50-000-Torquay-balloon/story-19501412-detail/story.html |access-date=29 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231003437/http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Legal-fight-begins-pound-50-000-Torquay-balloon/story-19501412-detail/story.html |archive-date=31 December 2013}}</ref>

From 1875, a number of potteries operated in Torquay, making [[Torquay pottery]] for both the tourist trade and the high-end retail market.

===Other===
Torquay was the home of [[Suttons Seeds]] until it relocated to the neighbouring town of Paignton in 1998, and [[Beverage Brands]], the owners of the popular and controversial alcoholic brand [[WKD Original Vodka|WKD]], was based in the town until 2011.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 May 2011 |title=Staff at Beverage Brands in Torquay face losing jobs |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-13363067 |access-date=13 February 2014 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925230352/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-13363067 |url-status=live }}</ref>