Oldway (Singer) Mansion, Paignton

Paignton

May 18, 2012

 

I entered through the grotto garden, which looked a little neglected. It was with great anticipation mixed with a feeling of melancholy that I neared my first views of the mansion. How I wished Glenn could have been with me.

 

And then... there it was

 

The following is what Glenn wrote about it the mansion in a chapter called:

THE WAR'S OVER, I'M ALIVE AND I JUST WANNA GO HOME!

"Oddly enough I have no recollection of where I stayed in Paignton. I do remember meeting a family who invited me to dinner and I got the brilliant idea that I'd bring some corn on the cob. When I presented my gift to the family, they said, "We have no idea what you're supposed to do with this." Apparently they considered it cattle food. So much for that idea. Each morning we were required to report on parade in a park-like area overlooking the water and wait for the names to be called for the ones destined to be shipped out. I knew that I was not due to go for some months. In order to keep us entertained we were introduced to the activities available at the Singer Mansion on the outskirts of town. The mansion had been requisitioned by the Royal Airforce in 1940 for training purposes. At war's end it was open for our enjoyment. Our hosts were local volunteers, soft spoken, obviously "upper class" women who were most willing to fill our impatient hours in any way short of lending us their bodies. I took advantage of the opportunity to go horseback riding with a group of airmen and local folks. And, of course, we rode "English" - small saddles on which we were expected to "post," the up and down motion in the saddle, flexing one's knees in an "oh so proper" manner. But it was fun and I had an opportunity to enjoy some of the English countryside free from bombers and war.

Also, at the mansion I sat for a pencil portrait by a very dapper English artist. There I am in all my young glory, complete with battle dress jacket, wireless operator wings, ribbons and all. Looking back to that time at Paignton, I find it very baffling that my memory only gives up a few bits of information. For example, I have no recollection whatsoever of where I was billeted. It was probably in a requisitioned hotel but I draw a blank there. Also, where did the Airforce feed us? Beats me. But I have a picture in my mind of the "parade grounds" where all the airmen gathered at 9:00 am each morning in hopes of hearing their name called out to be shipped home to Canada. The site was a large grass park near the water and across the road, I believe, were the line of tourist hotels stretching into the distance."

"As to the Singer Mansion. I have some very distinct images. The grounds were beautiful, 17 acres of sweeping terraced lawns and flowers. The Mansion itself was an imposing structure. Here is a bit of history:

In 1871 Isaac Singer, founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company started with a small (?) 100 room mansion and then set out to create a massive structure. He was to pass on at age 63 in 1875. He left behind 22 living children, various wives both legal and common-law and an unfinished mansion. It was his third son, Paris Singer, who next took on the job. He modeled the mansion after the Palace of Versailles. So much for a short history."

Well, of course there's a tea room. It's England.