About

As a self-catering apartment, you’ll find everything you need for a perfect stay. The kitchen is equipped to an extremely high standard. The apartment is the perfect place to relax with wi-fi and multiple televisions..

This apartment has 3 bedrooms with luxury Dreams beds, Hypnos mattresses and Dorma bedding, comfortably sleeping 6. In the first bedroom, you will find a King size bed. In the next bedroom, there is a double bed. The third bedroom contains two single beds.

There are 3 bathrooms, 2 ensuite and 1 family bathroom. The en-suites have a toilet, sink and walk in shower and the family bathroom additionally has a bath with integral shower.

linens and towels are all included to make your stay more enjoyable, we want you to feel that you are in the comfort of your home and you can fully relax.

History of Staar Escapes and local area.

Sir Bertram MacKennal

Staar Escapes apartment is a part of what is now called Trinity House. Originally Trinity House was Watcombe Hall which was built in approximately 1850. Down the lane towards the beach on the other side is Watcombe Court.

The area to the left of the main road (A379) going up the hill after turning right at the top of the lane was originally Watcombe Park which was where Isambard Kingdom Brunel planned to have his retirement home but only the footings had been laid before his untimely death in 1859. I have seen a rumour that Brunel may have had a mistress that lived at Watcombe Hall but I have so far not found any verification of this.

Watcombe Hall was originally built for Captain Philpotts (Royal Navy) who was one of the sons of the very influential Bishop of Exeter, Henry Philpotts. Henry Philpotts built his home in Torquay and this later became the huge Palace Hotel which has sadly been recently demolished for redevelopment.

Silent movie actor, director and producer Dallas Cairns lived here in the early 20^th Century and Raleigh-King Productions was established at Watcombe Hall for him. Dallas Cairns was already making films at Ealing. Two films were made here in 1922, ‘Creation’ and ‘The Island of Romance’. However, it appears as if no prints have survived.

Later, Watcombe Hall became the home of Sir Bertram MacKennal, an Australian sculptor and medallist who came to England in 1880. Some of his work can be found in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor and he also sculpted war memorials in the Houses of Parliament. He is most famous for designing the coinage and stamps bearing the likeness of George V. He signed his work “BM”.

He was one of the few artists that King George V liked, and, as a result, was selected to create many sculptures of the king. He died suddenly while living at Watcombe Hall in 1931.

Both Dallas Cairns and Sir Bertram MacKennal were born in Adelaide, Australia.