Woodlands House of Prayer made its home at Brunel Manor in Torquay for 58 years, before its sale in 2021.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (the famous victorian engineer) bought land on the outskirts of Torquay where he planned to build a large house to retire too. Sadly he died when only the foundations and basement had been built. The house was eventually built in the 1870s, initially it was a private home before becoming a Christian hotel. During WWII it provided a temporary home for a teacher training college. In 1963 Woodlands House of Prayer bought the site, moving from Eastbourne.
We don't have many photos dating from before Woodlands House of Prayer came to Torquay, but here are some photos of Brunel Manor from more recent years.
Brunel Manor
looking out from the chapel
the front entrance
the terrace gardens
the italian garden games lawn
the woodland walk, home to many of brunel's original trees
OCCASIONALLY it snowED, even in Torquay!
BUT SPRING ALWAYS RETURNED...
