An elegant Victorian Villa in the Torquay Riviera, with stunning sea views and sweeping grounds
With its Victorian grandeur and years of meticulous restoration work, it's not hard to see why Middle Warberry Court is known as 'one of Torquay's most imposing homes.


‘On the sea-facing side of Warberry Hill, the villa preserves the essence of Victorian style with 21st-century living, presented with a meticulous eye to detail,’ say agents of Middle Warberry Court, which sits handsome, gleaming white and in fine fettle both inside and out on the ‘Torquay Riviera’ and was once one of the town’s most imposing homes.
Now on the market via agents John Couch with a guide price of £1.5 million, Middle Warberry Court was, like many of Torquay's 'signature villas', built during the mid 19th century.
The current owners acquired the property in 1989 and throughout their ownership have extensively restored and repaired much of the house, using highly skilled tradesmen from both the local area and London.
Marble fireplaces feature throughout and the elegant drawing room has two bay windows that look out over the gardens towards the sea—views that are also enjoyed by two of the four bedrooms upstairs (the master is en suite), not to mention a beautifully restored Art Deco marble bathroom.
The south-facing gardens and grounds have also received the same high level of attention and care as seen in the house. A sweeping lawn meets with established trees, Mediterranean shrubbery and a 120ft York paved terrace.
Middle Warberry Court is currently on the market via John Couch with a guide price of £1.5 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Torquay: What you need to know
Location: Torquay is a seaside town on the southwest Devon coast, located between Plymouth and Exeter. The nearest train station is within the town, which offers Great Western rail services and links to London.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Atmosphere: Torquay is a popular town, nicknamed the ‘English Riviera’ thanks to its beautiful beaches — such as Babbacombe and Oddicombe — which makes it popular with visitors. Torquay harbour is home to a marina and numerous shops, cafes and restaurants and was also the birthplace and home of Agatha Christie.
Things to do: If stretches of beautiful coastline, beaches, sailing and water sports aren’t your thing, then head to Torre Abbey — a monastery founded in 1196, which is home to beautiful gardens and art galleries. There are also a number of independent and chain shops and restaurants within the town.
Schools: Warberry C of E Academy, Ellacombe Church of England Academy and All Saints Babbacombe C of E Primary School are all rated 'good' by Ofsted.
See more property for sale in the area.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Annunciata grew up in the wilds of Lancashire and now lives in Hampshire with a husband, two daughters and an awful pug called Parsley. She’s been floating round the Country Life office for more than a decade, her work winning the Property Magazine of the Year Award in 2022 (Property Press Awards). Before that, she had a two-year stint writing ‘all kinds of fiction’ for The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, worked in internal comms for Country Life’s publisher (which has had many names in recent years but was then called IPC Media), and spent another year researching for a historical biographer, whose then primary focus was Graham Greene and John Henry Newman and whose filing system was a collection of wardrobes and chests of drawers filled with torn scraps of paper. During this time, she regularly gave tours of 17th-century Milton Manor, Oxfordshire, which may or may not have been designed by Inigo Jones, and co-founded a literary, art and music festival, at which Johnny Flynn headlined. When not writing and editing for Country Life, Annunciata is also a director of TIN MAN ART, a contemporary art gallery founded in 2021 by her husband, James Elwes.
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?
When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
By Rob Crossan Published
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealed
New research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of England
Come for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River Tay
Carnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
By James Fisher Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published