Signal Box At South End Of East Platform At Torquay Station

The signal box at the south end of the east platform at Torquay Station was built in 1878 for the Great Western Railway. It is constructed from snecked rock-faced grey limestone, likely with Bathstone dressings, including quoins, a stringcourse, window frames, and a chimney stack. The roof is hipped and covered with Welsh slate, featuring lead rolls at the hips and a short ridge with a metal ventilator resembling a finial.

The building is small and rectangular in plan. The entrance is located at the north end of the ground floor, with steps leading to an entrance above on the first floor, which faces the railway line. Originally freestanding, the signal box was partially enveloped by the east platform extension in the mid-1920s. The first floor has a timber superstructure with horizontal sliding sash windows that include glazing bars, and it is boarded above. The large stone sill serves as the stringcourse that wraps around the building. At the north end, there is a half-glazed double door that is accessed via 20th-century timber external stairs. The south side features a pair of barred windows with stone frames.

Historically, the railway line from Newton Abbot to Torquay was constructed by the South Devon Railway Company in 1848, initially reaching Torre Station. The line was extended to Paignton in 1859, leading to the opening of Torquay Station. The South Devon Railway was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1876, which subsequently built this station and signal box in 1878.