The History Of Millbrook House

Millbrook House Hotel has been a hotel since 1953 although not under the same name or ownership. We thought that you would like to know a little about the history surrounding it.

The village of Chelston was originally associated with Cockington, which was mentioned in the Doomsday Book. It gradually became a village in its own right towards the end of the 19th century. Opposite the hotel is a stone marking the boundary line of the village of Torre and Cockington and the school is situated on the site of the original Old Mill, hence the name Old Mill Road. This road was also once the main road to Paignton. To the side of the hotel is a brook which runs from the Newton Road through to the Kings Pond on the seafront and fed the Mill. The Torre area was once a monastery hence the ancient buildings in Torre Abbey Gardens which are well worth a visit.

Another point of interest is the railway line situated behind the hotel. It is one of the many that were constructed by Brunel. The playing fields behind the school were used as a type of campsite whilst the railway was being constructed and as many as 200 horses were kept there for use in transportation and haulage work. With the advent of developers and progress itself many of the buildings of historical note have disappeared but the village of Cockington is quite delightful and virtually intact.

This hotel was destroyed by enemy action during the Second World War along with the adjoining properties. The plan for enemy planes was to bomb naval installations at Plymouth, dropping any spare bombs along the coast on their return flight.

The hotel has gradually developed and in recent years extensive refurbishment has taken place bringing the hotel up to Five Diamond Silver Award standard. We have taken over the hotel in May 2005 and aim to continue and develop this excellence.