Watcombe Park Conservation Area Character ... - Torbay Council

6 The well-concealed car park in Watcombe Beach Road gives access to the beach400 metres distant. The heavily wooded setting here extends well beyond both theconservation area and the registered gardens of Watcombe Park.Brunel Manor Buildings7-9 Brunel Manor dates from c.1870, the existing building, now a conference centre, wasbuilt for the wealthy Lancashire paper manufacturer J R Crompton by J Watson, to aground plan originally prepared by William Burn for Isambard Kingdom Brunel, butwas left incomplete at the latter's death in 1859. The building has a wealth of neo-Gothic detail and a rich combination of materials, mainly of local limestone in acrazed rubble pattern with Bath stone dressings and with stone and brickpolychromy in the tall stacks (8). The eastern extension is from the later 20thcentury (9).10-11 The former estate buildings and stable yard 100 metres northeast of the main househave been recently converted to housing. The high standard of craftsmanship inbrick and stone is evident across the block.