Torquay's name originates in it being the quay of the ancient village of Torre, which in turn takes its name from the tor whose extensively quarried remains can be seen by the town's Tor Hill Road.

The area comprising modern Torquay has been inhabited since paleolithic times. Hand axes found in Kents Cavern date to 450,000 years ago, and a maxilla fragment known as Kents Cavern 4 may be oldest example of a modern human in Europe.

Roman Soldiers are known to have visited Torquay at some point during the period when Britain was a part of the Roman Empire, leaving offerings at a strange rock formation in Kent's Cavern, known as 'The Face'.

These days Torquay is a thriving community in a beautiful part of the world. Tourism is the main industry and is the driving force behind most issues and develoments.

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