In the mid to late nineteenth century, the Valley of the Rocks was
a
popular
destination for locals and tourists as well as providing grazing rights
for livestock of local farmers. Picnics atop the 150 foot Giant Rock
were commonplace and the area was made famous in 1852 and 1853 when the
Torquay Choral Society organized two
Musical Fête Champêtres which
attracted attendances of upwards of 8,000. However, there were to be
no more extravaganzas (the organizers made a huge loss after the 1853
event owing to the majority of attendees refusing to pay admittance -
citing doubts as to the ownership of the land) and eventually the hitherto exposed and dramatic rock formations were lost to encroaching vegetation.
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Musical Fête Champêtre at Watcombe, near Torquay
Colebrooke Stockdale, 1852 | |
An interesting story related to me by my old friend Alan Hunt carries the history of the Valley of the Rocks into the twentieth century. Alan's father, Jim, was the owner of the Maidencombe Tea Gardens at Ferndale House and discovered that hikers had difficulty in getting up the Goats Path from the Valley of the Rocks into Maidencombe. Therefore, around 1920, Jim commenced work on cutting steps into the rocky section lower down the path. These steps survive to the present day, so next time you walk down the Goats Path, you'll know who was responsible and when it took place.
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| The precipitous Goats Path in the late nineteenth century, before Alan's father cut steps into the rocks. |
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