Belgrave Road, Torquay (1871)

The book of fair Devon. Exeter: United Devon Association, 1899-1900. pp. 63-4.The affairs of the town were until a few years ago managed by a local board, but this has now been changed to a municipality with a mayor and corporation, and both bodies have spent money without stint. The water supply is collected from moorland streams on a spur of Dartmoor, over seventeen miles away. The reservoirs hold about three hundred million gallons, and the constant service is in use. From the watershed have been removed all farms, and no human being dwells thereon. This has been effected at a cost of about £60,000, and thus all chance of those terrible tragedies which have occurred in some places has been prevented. In this respect Torquay is far in advance of most places, and the absolute safety of the water is guaranteed. The water is very pure and wonderfully soft, and it is probably due to its great solvent properties that rheumatism is so rare. An extensive pier has been built, and numerous public gardens and walks and drives have been laid out. Something like £100,000 has been spent of late years in sewerage works, and with such excellent results that typhoid is very rare. In addition to this the individual house is not neglected, and, as nothing will keep in order for ever, intending residents are advised, before they sign a lease or other document, to ask for a fresh sanitary report from the Town Hall. This will save a great deal of trouble and cost the applicant nothing. The roads are well kept, and, being made of limestone, dry very quickly, so that it is possible to walk about very soon after rain has ceased falling without inconvenience. [Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

Steel l.engr vign

62x91mm

Rock & Co. ; no. 6337. 1 Mar 1871