The hotel is located in Warren Road, Torquay - "TORQUAY VERNON COURT HOTEL (unlicensed). Overlooking Princess Gardens, Pavilion Harbour, Town Gardens and Tennis Courts. Electric lift to all floors. Greatly enlarged and re-furnished. Magnificent balcony ( Royal Automobile Club guide and handbook) and TORQUAY.— Vernon Court Hotel ; 1 South aspect ; h.and c. all bed, garage. From 3 guineas. (National and English review: Volume 102). The hotel has now been converted into apartments offerings fantastic panoramic views across The English Riviera, including Torquay marina to the left, Brixham and Paignton across the water, and Torre Abbey beach below. The hotel is to the centre of Torquay and Torre Abbey Sands can be accessed from directly below the hotel via a path.
Lowry stayed with his friend James Travers who owned a silver-fox farm near Chagford in early June 1933. On the 12th June, Lowry was admitted to Morteonhampstead Cottage Hospital suffering from "dysentry" contracted in Spain, though Clarissa Aiken reported that he had gone in for drying out. (Gordon Bowker Pursued By Furies Pg. 159). Lowry left the hospital after several days to recuperate at the Vernon Court Hotel in Torquay. The accommodation was arranged and paid for by Arthur Lowry. Lowry garaged his MG F-type Magna at the hotel's garage. He was visited here by James Travers and Bob Pocock during the Summer of 1933. Lowry went swimming on the nearby Torre Abbey Sands.
Lowry wrote to Jan Gabrial from the hotel and 6 letters survive (Collected Letters Volume 1 Pgs.133-138)
I had no idea that Lowry had visited so extensively around Devon, it is really interesting to be able to add more sites in connection to him.
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