Cecil Torr

Cecil Torr (11 October 1857, Mitcham, London – 17 December 1928) was a British antiquarian and author.

Early life Torr was the son of a solicitor and was educated at Harrow School. Cecil Torr matriculated on 7 June 1876 at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating there B.A. 1880 and M.A. 1883. He had a brother who was also educated at Harrow; in Small Talk at Wreyland Torr remarks on his brother's prodigious memory and that he had died 25 years earlier.

He was admitted in 1879 at the Inner Temple and was called to the Bar in 1882.

He was a councillor for the Newton Abbot Rural District Council.

He is noted for writing Small Talk at Wreyland (3 vols., 1918–1923); the first volume was an unexpected commercial success. His 1894 book Ancient Ships deals with the structure of ships that sailed the Mediterranean in 1000 B.C. – 1000 A.D.

In 1905, Torr revived the tradition of Lustleigh May Day in the village, which continues to be held annually, with maypole dancing, morris dancing, and the attractions of a traditional English fete. He also donated a maypole to the nearby town of Bovey Tracey for their use.

Selected publications