View source for Paignton

{{Short description|Seaside town in Devon, England}}
{{distinguish|Paynton|Painton, Missouri}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox UK place
 |country =                England
 |official_name=           Paignton
 |coordinates = {{coord|50|26|7|N|3|33|45|W|display=inline,title}}
 |static_image_name=Preston sands.jpg
 |static_image_caption= View along Preston Sands beach
| population_ref = {{nowrap|67,520 (Built up area, 2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |website=Census 2021 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>}}
  |unitary_england=         [[Torbay]]
 |lieutenancy_england=       [[Devon]]
 |region=                  South West England
 |constituency_westminster= [[Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)|Torbay]]<br />[[South Devon (UK Parliament constituency)|South Devon]]
 |post_town=               PAIGNTON
 |postcode_district =       TQ3, TQ4
 |postcode_area=            TQ
 |dial_code=                01803
 |os_grid_reference=        SX8960
 }}
'''Paignton''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|eɪ|n|t|ən}} {{respell|PAYN|tən}}) is a seaside town on the coast of [[Tor Bay]] in [[Devon]], England. Together with [[Torquay]] and [[Brixham]] it forms the [[unitary authority|borough]] of [[Torbay]] which was created in 1968. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera. Paignton has origins as a [[Celt]]ic settlement and was first mentioned in 1086. It grew as a small fishing village and a new harbour was built in 1847. A railway line was opened to passengers in 1859 creating links to Torquay and London. As its population increased, it merged with the villages of [[Goodrington]] and [[Preston, Devon|Preston]]. Paignton is around {{Convert|25|mi}} north east of [[Plymouth]] and {{Convert|20|mi}} south of [[Exeter]].

==History==
A Roman burial was discovered in 1993 on the Hookhills estate by a householder digging a patio. At first thought to be [[Neolithic]], it was later radiocarbon dated to be between 230 and 390&nbsp;CE. The burial is of a young woman aged between 15 and 25 years. The burial included oysters and her teeth and bone reveal a diet rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Despite living near the sea marine food only accounted for 10% of her diet. The skeleton is the most complete yet found in Devon and is on display in the [[Torquay Museum]].<ref name="Display poster in museum">{{cite book |title=The Hookhills Burial |publisher=Torquay Museum}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Chandler|first=Barry|year=2008|title=A Late Romano-British Inhumation Burial from Hookhills, Paignton|journal=Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society|volume=66|pages=59–68|issn=0305-5795}} ([https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/details.xhtml?recordId=3092488 Abstract] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210104557/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/details.xhtml?recordId=3092488 |date=10 December 2020 }}, retrieved 30 November 2020)</ref>

Paignton is mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as ''Peintone'' in the ancient [[Hundred (county division)|hundred]] of Kerswell.<ref>[http://opendomesday.org/place/SX8860/paignton/ Open Domesday Online: Paignton, Devon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730150835/http://opendomesday.org/place/SX8860/paignton/ |date=30 July 2017 }}, accessed July 2017</ref> Formerly written ''Peynton'', ''Payngton''<ref>[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/1765_Benjamin_Donn_Wall_Map_of_Devonshire_and_Exeter%2C_England_-_Geographicus_-_Devon-donn-1765.jpg 1765 Benjamin Donn Wall Map of Devonshire and Exeter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504141904/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/1765_Benjamin_Donn_Wall_Map_of_Devonshire_and_Exeter,_England_-_Geographicus_-_Devon-donn-1765.jpg |date=4 May 2018 }}, accessed July 2017</ref> and ''Paington'', the name is derived from ''Pæga'', an Anglo-Saxon personal name, ''-ing'' meaning "the people of" and ''tun'' an enclosure, estate or homestead,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pike|first1=John R.|title=Paignton|date=1993|publisher=Torbay Borough Council|isbn=1-869986-06-7|pages=1}}</ref> the original Anglo-Saxon settlement. Originally, the beach was backed by low [[sand dunes]] with marshes behind on the flat land between the sea and the hills behind. The settlement grew up on the dry ground at the foot of the hills, and also as a separate hamlet in the shelter of Roundham Head, which was a fishing settlement. The first church was probably built using wood in the eighth century.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pike|first1=John R.|title=Paignton|date=1993|publisher=Torbay Borough Council|isbn=1-869986-06-7|pages=58}}</ref>

In late Saxon times, the manor was owned by Leofric, the [[Bishop of Exeter]]. Later bishops built the [[Bishop's Palace, Paignton|Bishop's Palace]] adjoining the parish church, some remains of which, including the Coverdale Tower are still standing. Winner Street owes its name to a corruption of the word "Wynerde", referring to vineyards or, at least to traders in wine in the medieval period.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pike|first1=John R.|title=Paignton|date=1993|publisher=Torbay Borough Council|isbn=1-869986-06-7|pages=27}}</ref> The bishops secured a [[charter]] from [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] in 1294 giving the right to hold a weekly market and an annual fair, making Paignton a [[market town]]. The market declined following the [[English Reformation]] in the 16th century.<ref name=Chapman>{{cite web |last1=Chapman |first1=Karen |title=The Paignton Market Charter of 1295 |url=https://www.paigntonheritagesociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/The-Paignton-Market-Charter-of-1295.pdf |publisher=Paignton Heritage Society |access-date=14 August 2023 |date=February 2022}}</ref><ref name="parnell">{{cite book
|last=Parnell
|first=Peggy
|title= A Paignton Scrapbook
|year=2007
|publisher=Sutton Publishing
|isbn = 978-0-7509-4739-8
}}</ref>

Paignton then remained a small fishing and farming village (noted for grapes, cabbages and cider)<ref>{{cite book|last1=Barber|first1=Chips|title=Paignton|date=1992|publisher=Obelisk Publications|isbn=0-946651-59-0|pages=4}}</ref> until the 19th century, when in 1837 the ''Paington Harbour Act'' led to the construction of a new harbour. Around the same time, the modern spelling, ''Paignton'', first appeared. The historic part of Paignton is centred on Church Street, Winner Street and Palace Avenue which contain fine examples of [[Victorian architecture]]. [[Kirkham House]] is a late [[medieval]] stone house which is open to the public at certain times of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.273 |title=Kirkham House : Devon : South West : View properties : Properties : Days Out & Events : English Heritage<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=30 July 2006 |archive-date=21 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521173241/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.273 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Coverdale Tower adjacent to Paignton Parish Church is named after Bishop [[Miles Coverdale]], who published an English translation of the Bible in 1536. Coverdale was Bishop of [[Exeter]] between 1551 and 1553 and is reputed to have lived in the tower although this is doubted by modern historians.<ref name="parnell"/>

[[File:Oldway.jpg|thumb|[[Oldway Mansion]] was built for [[Isaac Merritt Singer]]]]

The railway line to Paignton was built by the [[Dartmouth and Torbay Railway]], and opened to passengers on 2 August 1859, providing [[Torquay]] and Paignton with a link to London.

The Paignton Pudding, first made in the 13th century, is the origin of the nickname ''pudden eaters'' for the people of Paignton. The puddings were made infrequently and were of great size. When thousands turned up hoping to obtain a piece of a huge [[pudding]] that had been baked to celebrate the arrival of the railway in 1859 chaos occurred and the event became notorious.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14415|title=From John O'Groats to Land's End|last1=Naylor |first1=John|last2=Naylor| first2=Robert|name-list-style=amp|year=1916|via=[[Project Gutenberg]]|access-date=28 September 2010|archive-date=20 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020004827/http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14415|url-status=live}}</ref> A Paignton Pudding was baked in 1995 to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the town's market charter, and another baked in 2006 to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the engineer, [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]].<ref name=Chapman/>

[[Oldway Mansion]] is a large house and gardens constructed in the 1870s for [[Isaac Merritt Singer]], who had amassed a considerable fortune with his improvements to the [[sewing machine]]. The building was occupied by Torbay Council<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.torbay.gov.uk/ |title=Torbay Council – Torbay Council Web Site<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=28 November 2008 |archive-date=14 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414120114/https://www.torbay.gov.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> until an agreement was signed in September 2012 to develop the site into a hotel and retirement apartments.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Delight-pound-12m-Paignton-Oldway-deal-signed/story-16989899-detail/story.html|title = Delight as £12m Paignton Oldway deal is signed to herald new beginning|date = 28 September 2012|access-date = 26 January 2015|website = Herald Express|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150128132558/http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Delight-pound-12m-Paignton-Oldway-deal-signed/story-16989899-detail/story.html|archive-date = 28 January 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> Other Singer legacies in Paignton include the Palace Hotel and the Inn on the Green, which were built as homes for Singer's sons Washington and Mortimer.

[[Torquay Tramways]] were extended into Paignton in 1911, but the network was closed in 1934.<ref>{{cite book |last= Crawley |first= Robert |title= Torquay Trams |year= 2007 |publisher= West Country Historic Omnibus and Transport Trust | location= Colaton Raleigh |pages= 1–3}}</ref>

== Governance ==
There is only one tier of local government covering Paignton, being the [[Unitary authorities in England|unitary authority]] of [[Torbay]], which covers a larger area than just Paignton, also including [[Brixham]] and [[Torquay]]. [[Torbay Council]] is based at [[Torquay Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.torbay.gov.uk/council/get-in-touch/contact/ |publisher=Torbay Council |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Old Town Hall, Paignton - geograph.org.uk - 3996502.jpg|thumb|[[Old Town Hall, Paignton|Old Town Hall]], New Street, built 1870.]]
Paignton was an [[ancient parish]]. The parish included the hamlets of [[Goodrington]] and [[Preston, Devon|Preston]], which were gradually absorbed into Paignton's urban area as it grew.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paignton Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10166251 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> Until 1863 the parish was administered by its [[vestry]] in the same way as most rural areas. Paignton was made a [[Local board of health|local government district]] in 1863, governed by a local board. The local board built itself what is now the [[Old Town Hall, Paignton]], at the corner of New Street and Totnes Road, being completed in 1870.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kelly's Directory of Devon and Cornwall |date=1914 |location=London |pages=467–468 |url=https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/303259 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

Local boards were reconstituted as [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban district councils]] in 1894.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1894|year=1894|chapter=73|access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref> In 1946, the council bought [[Oldway Mansion]] to serve as its headquarters, having outgrown the old Town Hall.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Civic Centre at Paignton: Oldway Mansion opened by Lady Leeds |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=14 August 2023 |work=Brixham Western Guardian |date=26 December 1946 |page=4}}</ref>

In 1968, the urban districts of Paignton and Brixham, the [[municipal borough]] of Torquay and the parish of [[Churston Ferrers]] were all abolished. A [[county borough]] called Torbay was created to cover the whole area (with some adjustments of the boundaries to neighbouring parishes at the same time). As a county borough, Torbay was administratively independent from [[Devon County Council]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=R. J. D. |title=Torbay Borough starts with a history: Story of the foundation of the new borough |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=3 August 2023 |work=Herald Express |date=1 April 1968 |location=Torquay |page=1968}}</ref> Six years later, in 1974, local government was reformed again, with Torbay becoming a [[non-metropolitan district]] and Devon County Council providing county-level services to the area again.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref> Torbay regained its independence from the county council in 1998 when it was made a unitary authority.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Devon (City of Plymouth and Borough of Torbay) Structural Change) Order 1996|year=1996|number=1865|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> Torbay remains part of the [[ceremonial county]] of Devon for the purposes of [[Lieutenancy area|lieutenancy]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Lieutenancies Act 1997|year=1997|chapter=23|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref>

Most of Paignton is in the [[Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)|Torbay constituency]]. At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], [[Kevin Foster (politician)|Kevin Foster]] became the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP with a majority of 3,286. He retained it with a majority of 14,283 in 2017. Some areas in the southern and western parts of the town are in the [[South Devon (UK Parliament constituency)|South Devon constituency]]. In 2015, [[Sarah Wollaston]] retained the seat for the Conservative Party with a majority of 18,385, reduced to 13,477 in 2017. Wollaston resigned from the Conservative Party in February 2019, moving between various political parties and sitting as an independent MP, before standing for the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|December 2019 general election]]. She was defeated by the Conservative candidate, [[Anthony Mangnall]], with a majority of 12,724.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50769700 |title=Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston loses seat after party switch |publisher=BBC News |date=13 December 2019}}</ref>

At the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 General Election]], Kevin Foster was replaced by Liberal Democrat Steve Darling and Anthony Mangall by Liberal Democrat [[Caroline Voaden]].

==Economy==
<!-- Note: Please do not add references to individual pubs, hotels etc as they will be removed. -->
[[File:Paignton Pier stitch.jpg|thumb|400px|Paignton Pier (1879) and beach]]
Paignton's economy relies extensively on tourism and the town is marketed as a location for family holidays. The main seafront area is dominated by [[Paignton Pier]],<ref>[http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/piers/paignton%20pier.htm English Seaside Piers – Paignton Pier<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714083324/http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/piers/paignton%20pier.htm |date=14 July 2007 }}</ref> a {{convert|780|ft|m|adj=on}} long structure opened in 1879. It was designed by George Soudon Bridgman, the local architect who also designed the original [[Oldway Mansion]].

The [[Festival Theatre, Paignton|Festival Theatre]], opened in 1967, was once a seafront theatre capable of staging large summer shows. In 1999 it was converted into a multiscreen [[movie theatre|cinema]]. The [[English Riviera Air Show|English Riviera Air show]] (formerly known as the "Torbay Air show"), launched in 2016, is held over the Bay in front of Paignton Sands in early June annually.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devon |first=We Are South |date=2019-08-30 |title=Torbay Airshow to be renamed following BID partnership |url=https://wearesouthdevon.com/torbay-airshow-to-be-renamed-following-bid-partnership/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=We Are South Devon |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Torbay Council|title=Torbay Air Show|url=http://torbayairshow.com|access-date=24 January 2018|archive-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109142623/http://torbayairshow.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Paignton Festival (formerly known as the "Torbay Carnival") is over 100 years old and is held annually in late July. It features a Carnival Procession together with various entertainments and charity stalls on The Green.<ref>{{cite web|last1=English Riviera BID Company Ltd|title=Paignton Festival (previously known as Torbay Carnival Week)|url=https://englishriviera.co.uk/whats-on/paignton-festival-previously-known-as-torbay-carnival-week-p1862923|access-date=24 January 2018|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723221127/https://www.englishriviera.co.uk/whats-on/cancelled-paignton-festival-torbay-carnival-week-p1862923|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Regatta]] Week during early August is the peak holiday season. During this period there is a [[funfair]] on Paignton Green, along with a large [[fireworks]] display. Later in August is Children's Week, which includes a wide range of events and competitions.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://childrensweek.co.uk/|title = Torbay Children's week|access-date = 25 January 2015|archive-date = 18 December 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141218120151/http://childrensweek.co.uk/|url-status = live}}</ref> Paignton has a variety of holiday accommodation, complemented by numerous [[public house|pub]]s, [[nightclub]]s and restaurants.

Tourist attractions include [[Paignton Zoo]] and the [[Dartmouth Steam Railway]], which operates [[steam trains]] from Paignton to [[Kingswear]], from where a ferry can be taken across the [[River Dart]] to [[Dartmouth, Devon|Dartmouth]]. The line was sold in 1972 without cessation of services by [[British Rail]] in the aftermath of the cutbacks of the [[Beeching Axe|Beeching]] era in the 1960s, and is operated today as a [[Heritage railway|heritage railway line]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Potts|first1=C.R.|title=The Newton Abbot to Kingswear Railway|date=2014|publisher=Oakwood Press|location=Usk|isbn=978-0-85361-733-4|pages=254–260|edition=2nd}}</ref> The 630 mile [[South West Coast Path]] [[National Trail]] runs along the coast.<ref>{{cite web|last1=South West Coast Path Association|title=South West Coast Path|url=https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/|access-date=24 January 2018|archive-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811201522/https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Suttons Seeds]], a supplier of [[seed]]s, [[bulb]]s and [[horticulture|horticultural products]], is based in Paignton.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Colleen |date=19 May 2022|title=Torbay firm Suttons Seeds confirms jobs are under threat |url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/torbay-firm-suttons-seeds-confirms-7101509|work=Devon Live|access-date=1 October 2022}}</ref>

==Places of interest==
[[File:Paignton parish church2.jpg|thumb|upright|St John the Baptist, The oldest of the five Parish Churches in Paignton. The tower was built c. 1327 and 1438<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paigntonparishchurch.co.uk/the-church/short-history/|title=Paignton Parish Church – Short History|access-date=29 March 2011|archive-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208161510/http://www.paigntonparishchurch.co.uk/the-church/short-history/|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
The [[Paignton Picture House]] (now closed) is believed to have been Europe's oldest purpose-built cinema and was built in 1907. Seat 2 Row 2 of the circle was the favourite seat of Torquay-born crime novelist [[Agatha Christie]], who lived in neighbouring [[Galmpton, Torbay|Galmpton]]. The cinemas and theatres in her books are all said to be based on the Paignton Picture House. It was also used as a location for the 1984 [[Donald Sutherland]] film ''[[Ordeal by Innocence (film)|Ordeal by Innocence]]'' and the 1981 film ''[[The French Lieutenant's Woman]]'' (which was filmed mainly at [[Lyme Regis]] in Dorset).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087852/ |title=Ordeal by Innocence (1984)<!-- Bot generated title --> |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=1 July 2018 |archive-date=8 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908035633/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087852/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082416/ |title=The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)<!-- Bot generated title --> |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=1 July 2018 |archive-date=15 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615024042/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082416/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Royal Bijou Theatre is now demolished, but a [[blue plaque]] marking its former location can be found next to the Thomas Cook travel agency in Hyde Road. The theatre was the venue for the [[premiere]] of ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' by [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] on 30 December 1879. The performance was given at short notice to secure the British [[copyright]] on the work after problems had arisen with unauthorised performances of ''[[HMS Pinafore]]'' in the USA.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/hrgsp/old/productions/pir00/pir00hist.htm |title=When I was but a nursery maid<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=1 October 2006 |archive-date=7 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007084802/http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/hrgsp/old/productions/pir00/pir00hist.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Palace Theatre, Paignton|Palace Theatre]] in Palace Avenue has been the main theatre in the town since the conversion of the [[Festival Theatre, Paignton|Festival Theatre]] to a cinema in 1998.

The [[department store]] Rossiters was a centrepiece of the town until its closure in January 2009. The store is said to have been the inspiration for the sitcom ''[[Are You Being Served?]]''<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7770954.stm "Shutting up shop after 150 years"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202170843/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7770954.stm |date=2 February 2009 }}, BBC News. 30 January 2005.</ref> In 2010, it reopened as a discount store.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.theoriginalfactoryshop.co.uk/en-GB/Information/Store-Finder/storedetails/?storeid=153|title = Store Details – The Original Factory Shop|access-date = 25 January 2015|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://archive.today/20150125125309/http://www.theoriginalfactoryshop.co.uk/en-GB/Information/Store-Finder/storedetails/?storeid=153|archive-date = 25 January 2015}}</ref>

From 1889 to 1897 the mathematician [[Oliver Heaviside]] lived in Palace Avenue, in the building now occupied by [[Barclays Bank]]. A commemorative blue plaque can be seen on the wall. Heaviside is buried in Paignton Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heavisde |first1=Oliver |url=http://heavisidememorialproject.co.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718172517/http://heavisidememorialproject.co.uk/ |archive-date=2014-07-18  |title=The Heaviside Memorial Project |access-date=29 September 2022}}</ref>

==Beaches==
[[File:Saltern Cove - geograph.org.uk - 1084668.jpg|thumb|Saltern Cove is a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]].]]
Paignton beach and the nearby [[Preston, Devon|Preston]] Sands, which are continuous at low tide, are used for [[Water sport (recreation)|water sport]]s including [[kite flying|kite]] surfing and [[dinghy]] sailing. Both are sandy and gently shelving and have no strong currents, making them popular with swimmers and families. Both have green spaces immediately inland. Paignton Green has a pirate-themed Adventure Golf course and the Paignton Geoplay Park, a children's play area, which has the area's geology as its theme, inspired by the [[UNESCO Global Geopark]] of which Paignton is a part. Immediately to the east of Paignton Harbour is Fairy Cove, which has no facilities, but features good exposures of the Torbay Breccia, a red sandstone with pieces of rock which washed into it when the area was a desert. Also within the former Urban District of Paignton lies [[Goodrington]] which has another popular [[Goodrington Sands|beach]] backed by Young's Park, with its boating lake, and a large outdoor waterpark, [[Splashdown Quaywest]]. Beyond Goodrington are Waterside and Saltern Coves, which have no facilities and are accessed through fields, followed by Broadsands, on the [[Brixham]] border.
The [[reed bed]]s found behind Broadsands beach are a haunt of the rare [[cirl bunting]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/cirlbunting/where.asp |title=Where to watch Cirl Buntings |access-date=4 October 2007 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201859/http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/cirlbunting/where.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> Hollicombe beach, situated at Paignton's northern boundary with Torquay, features a geological stratotype at its northern end, known as the "Corbyn's Head Member"<ref>[http://www.countryside-trust.org.uk/lbappdfs/pagegeorev.pdf A Review of the Geological Heritage of Torbay] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228140558/http://www.countryside-trust.org.uk/lbappdfs/pagegeorev.pdf |date=28 February 2008 }}</ref> Elberry Cove is used by [[jetski]] enthusiasts, while [[Saltern Cove]] is a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] due to its distinctive geology and its marine biology.

==Transport==
===Railway===
[[Paignton railway station]] is situated close to the town centre and is a short walk from the beach along Torbay Road. Train services are provided mainly by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]; these consist of approximately half-hourly services to [[Torquay railway station|Torquay]], [[Newton Abbot railway station|Newton Abbot]], [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter]] and [[Exmouth railway station|Exmouth]] along the [[Riviera Line]], with some longer distance services to [[Taunton railway station|Taunton]], [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol]], [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff]] and [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]]. [[CrossCountry]] provides two services per day currently to [[Manchester Piccadilly station]] via Bristol.

====Heritage====
Queen's Park station, for services on the [[Dartmouth Steam Railway]], is adjacent to the main railway station on the beachside of the [[level crossing]]. A service of steam trains is provided from February to December, although it is daily only between April and October.

The other railway station in Paignton is [[Goodrington Sands railway station|Goodrington Sands]] (opened in 1928), which is now part of the Dartmouth Steam Railway.

===Buses and coaches===
The bus and coach station faces the main entrance to the railway station. Bus services are provided by [[Stagecoach South West]], Torbay Minibuses, Country Bus (Newton Abbot) and the Dartmouth Steam Railway & Riverboat Company. Principal services lead to [[Totnes]] and [[Plymouth]]; [[Torquay]] and [[Newton Abbot]]; [[Torquay]], [[Teignmouth]] and [[Dawlish Warren]]; [[Brixham]]; and [[Kingswear]], for the ferry to [[Dartmouth, Devon|Dartmouth]]. A range of long-distance coach services is operated by [[National Express Coaches|National Express]].

===Ferries===
[[Ferry]] services are provided seasonally by Paignton Pleasure Cruises and We Ferry to Torquay and [[Brixham]] from Paignton Harbour.

{{Panorama
|image = File:Paignton harbour.jpg
|caption = Paignton Harbour, with Torquay in the background
|height = 250
|alt = Paignton Harbour, with Torquay in the background
|}}

==See also==
* [[List of towns and cities in Devon by population]]
* [[List of schools in Torbay]]
* [[Kirkham House]]
* [[Paignton Academy]]
* [[Redcliffe Hotel]]
* [[Torbay Inn]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book|last=Frith|first=Francis |author2=John Bainbridge|title=Francis Frith's Torbay|publisher=Frith Book Co|year=1999|isbn=1-85937-063-2}}
*{{cite book|last=Pearce|first=Frank|title=The Book of Torbay: A Century of Celebration|publisher=Halsgrove|year=1999|isbn=1-84114-029-5}}

==External links==
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{{Commons category|Paignton}}
{{Wikivoyage}}

{{Devon}}

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[[Category:Paignton| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Devon]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in England]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Devon]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Devon]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Devon]]
[[Category:Torbay]]