A BRIEF HISTORY OF PRESTON
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PRESTON
The name ‘Preston’ comes from the Old English ‘Peosta Tun’ meaning the ‘Priests’ Farm’ or settlement. It has been suggested there was a Christian ‘mission station’ for the district.
Around 1050 AD, the Manor of Paignton passed into the ownership of the See (Bishopric) of Exeter. The Manor of Paignton included the Manors of Preston and Marldon. The Manor of Paignton remained under the control of the Diocese of Exeter, with various Vicars having the ‘pickings’ of both Preston and Marldon, until the Manor passed into lay hands at the time of the Reformation.
After the Reformation, some of the Lords of the Manor of Paignton were:
1549 Thomas Speke
1557 William Herbert (Earl of Pembroke)
1644 Sir Henry Cary of Cockington
1654 Samuel Kelland
1793 Reverend John Templer of Stover and Lindridge
In 1922 the Manor of Paignton passed to Paignton Urban District Council, which in turn was subsumed into Torbay Unitary Authority. In 1959, the Templer family handed the title ‘Lord of the Manor of Paignton’ to Paignton Urban District Council, who were probably the first Council to hold such a title. The title is now held by Torbay Council
Until 1910, ‘Torquay Road’ passed the Old Manor Inn, but then Paris Singer, as part of his development of the area, proposed and paid for a ‘by-pass’ for Preston hamlet. Torquay Road moved to its present location, and Upper Manor Road was constructed. This meant cutting through the old Brooke Farm. If you look now at Brooke Cottage, on the right of Manor Crescent, you will see from the angles of the end walls how part of the building has been taken away to allow the construction of the new road.
From 1910, ‘Preston House’ was the home of the Butland family. This prominent local family could trace their origins back to the Tudor period, with many details in Parish Records from 1559. It was a family tradition for the eldest son to be christened ‘Robert’. When the last Mr Robert Butland died unmarried in the late 1950’s, Preston House was purchased by Paignton UDC, who demolished the building and then turned the site into a car park and public gardens
In 1913, the tram line from Torquay harbourside to Preston was completed, and the tram shelter (NOT a bus shelter!) was completed in September 1913.
Shortly after this, work was begun on extending the line to Waycotts Corner on Hyde Road, Paignton. At this point, the trams would terminate before making a return trip to Torquay.
On 14 January 1934 , the Torquay to Paignton tram took its final trip. By 31 January all tram services in Torbay had ceased
Today, Preston is a vibrant area, with properties much sought after, and a shopping area providing for most day to day needs.
Karen Chapman
March 2025.
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