Welcome
Whether you’re interested in booking a stay or you’re already checked in, we hope you find this website useful. We’ve compiled info and guides about the house and the local area so you can get the most out of your holiday!
The House
Longcroft House is a Grade II listed, early Victorian villa in one of Torquay’s most elegant residential suburbs, ’The Lincombes’. Situated in over an acre of stunning grounds with uninterrupted sea views, this stately villa is the ideal holiday retreat for groups and families of up to twelve guests. The landscaped grounds feature gentle gravel paths, manicured sea view vistas, and picnic-beckoning lawns. The villa is characterised by lavish architecture and seductive ambience, with ample parking.
Amenities
Once inside, there’s a hallway with wood flooring and a grand staircase. Floor to ceiling bay windows frame sea views in the elegant living room and the entire house boasts high ceilings, character features and splendid fireplaces. A picturesque country kitchen provides plenty of space with pretty garden views. The range cooker and twelve place table makes entertaining an irresistible prospect, whilst the coastal aspect garden room is the perfect recluse. Al fresco meals on the sea view terrace are popular with guests in the summer months.
The staircase leads to beautifully presented rooms featuring original marble fireplaces, antique touches, in addition to en-suite bathrooms and flat-screen TVs in the main bedrooms. There are two double en-suite bedrooms, one double bedroom with a sink and toilet on the landing opposite, a twin bedroom with a shower room and a further bedroom furnished with four single beds, ideal for children, with an en-suite.
History of the House
Longcroft was built in 1887 and purchased by our great-grandparents, Charles and Isabella Vaughan, in the 1920's. They chose this house as they felt it had the best sea view in Torquay!
Charles and Isabella had two children; John and Beatrice. Our grandmother, Beatrice, had her wedding reception at the house when she married our grandfather, Hugh Scuffham in 1944. They met whilst both serving in the airforce during WWII. There are pictures of Beatrice and Hugh on the mantel piece in the sitting room.
Several changes were made to the house around this time. The dining room was originally where the kitchen is today. There was no kitchen in the main house, instead food was prepared by a cook who lived in Longcroft Lodge (the adjoining property) and brought through via a communicating door near where the fridge now sits. After the war the houses were separated, a kitchen was installed in the main house and the dining table was moved to the alcove in the hall.
Beatrice and Hugh had two daughters; Anne (who was born in Longcroft) and Gillian. There are pictures of Anne and Gillian on their wedding days on the mantel piece in the hall, marrying Philip Mellor and Francis Mann respectively. Our parents, Gillian and Francis, undertook much of the modernisation work (new bathrooms etc) and opened the house to holiday lets in the mid 1980's.
They had 3 children; Isabella, Adrien and Caroline. We've been coming here on family holidays since we were born and have grown to love the house and surrounding area. So much so that Isabella followed her grandparents' example and hosted her wedding reception here in 2007. We now come here with our own children; the 5th generation of our family to enjoy this house!