Explore Paignton’s Foxhole estate from its origins housing company workers to residents’ shared memories.
Back in 1946, Paignton had a housing shortage. The council planned to build houses at Foxhole, wanting 700 homes on 99 acres with access from King’s Ash Cross. The plan included shops, a library, a school, a church, and a hall.
A pub got approved for Fernicombe Road, and Foxhole Road expanded in the 1950s. Shops and the Tom Cobley pub appeared. Tom Cobley was Paignton’s first post-war pub, using prefabrication for quick building. Plymouth Breweries opened it in 1953.
In 2008, they changed the pub’s name to The Entertainer. Then, in 2011, it changed again with plans to make it a store. Now, it is a Co-Op convenience store. Locally, shops got nicknames, with people calling them “bottom shops” and “top shops”.
Early shops included a hairdresser called Oliver, Paignton Co-op Butchers, and R F Harley, a grocer. J Watson was a chemist, and H & J Cann sold papers and ran the post. Richard Woodland was a doctor, and T A B Connell also sold groceries, while L J Mileham sold hardware. A sweet shop and a draper completed the mix.
Craig Short lived in Rosemary Gardens, able to visit either set of shops easily. He spent his pocket money on sweets. People wondered about the planned library. Some think the church is now at Hodson Close.
Mike Brelsford never saw a library. Tracey Lenthall mentioned St Boniface, a church for the estate with a cross shown on deeds. She lived next door, and that cross marked where houses would be. There was a Congregational church, too, now houses on Belfield Road.
Michael Ford knew about STC, saying Foxhole housing was for its workers. Some came from Ilminster in Somerset. His dad worked there, starting at the Rotunda before moving to Brixham Road.
Tracey Lenthall agreed about STC, stating that everyone on her street worked there. Her family moved in 1957 to a new house. The church wasn’t there yet, and no other houses existed past theirs.
The Facebook post caused nostalgia. People shared memories and coincidences, reconnecting with old neighbors or friends from school. Adam Wakeham lived above a wool shop, owned by his mom in the 70s, near the sweet shop.
Andy Edwards lived on Fernicombe Road. He went to Foxhole Primary before his family moved to Roselands. Pearl Wills lived on Foxhole Road above a hardware shop. Her dad owned the shop and bred budgies. She went to Curledge Street Girls School.