Government grant helps kick-start Oldway Mansion repairs

This helps us move ever closer to restoring Oldway'

A new £400,000 phase of the work to restore Paignton’s historic Oldway Mansion has begun.

The work on the building’s West Tower has been funded by £166,000 from Historic England along with £234,000 from Torbay Council.

Historic England is a government body charged with protecting the nation’s historic buildings.

Cllr Chris Lewis (Con, Preston), the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for place development, said: “This investment from Historic England enables us to press ahead with the next critical phase of conservation on the West Tower.

“These works form part of our wider ambition to restore Oldway as a landmark cultural and community asset. We are grateful for the continued partnership with Historic England and the funding that is helping us stabilise the building and move ever closer to restoring Oldway for the whole community.”

The council says the work will comprise specialist structural and conservation work, including essential repairs to the roof, floors, and structural framework.

Last October the council commissioned specialist teams to carry out essential repairs after inspections confirmed how badly the roof covering and dormers on the West Tower had deteriorated.

These works form part of the wider restoration programme supported by £8million in government funding and £1million from the council.

The West Tower is part of a former riding school and banqueting house which dates from the heyday of the Singer family’s time at Oldway in the early 20th Century.

Oldway has been on Historic England’s Heritage ‘At Risk’ register since 2023.

The organisation’s regional director Rebecca Barrett added: “Projects like this deliver so much more than just the repair of old buildings – they strengthen local economies, bring communities together, and instil a genuine sense of pride in what makes a place special.

“That’s why we’re pleased to have awarded a grant for the West Tower repairs, and to support Torbay Council in their ambitions to secure the future of Oldway.”

Oldway’s ground and sporting facilities remain open throughout the restoration, but access to the building itself is prohibited for safety reasons.