FALMOUTH ART GALLERY AND LIBRARY; PASSMORE EDWARDS FREE LIBRARY

FALMOUTH ART GALLERY AND LIBRARY, THE MOOR

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Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1269979
Date first listed:: 16-Dec-1994
List Entry Name:: FALMOUTH ART GALLERY AND LIBRARY; PASSMORE EDWARDS FREE LIBRARY
Statutory Address:: FALMOUTH ART GALLERY AND LIBRARY, THE MOOR

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Date:: 2003-11-01
Reference:: IOE01/11140/05
Rights:: © Margaret Hocking. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1269979
Date first listed:: 16-Dec-1994
List Entry Name:: FALMOUTH ART GALLERY AND LIBRARY; PASSMORE EDWARDS FREE LIBRARY
Statutory Address 1:: FALMOUTH ART GALLERY AND LIBRARY, THE MOOR
Statutory Address 2:: PASSMORE EDWARDS FREE LIBRARY, THE MOOR

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: FALMOUTH ART GALLERY AND LIBRARY, THE MOOR
Statutory Address:: PASSMORE EDWARDS FREE LIBRARY, THE MOOR

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Falmouth
National Grid Reference:: SW 80620 32922

Details

SW 8032 NE 843-1/7/203

FALMOUTH, THE MOOR (North West side), Falmouth Art Gallery and Library (Passmore Edwards Free Library)

16/12/94

GV

II

Free library, council chamber and science and art school, now library and art gallery. 1896, by WH Tresidder; patrons J Passmore Edwards and Octavius Allen Ferris. Squared grey limestone with granite dressings including rock-faced plinth, ashlar pilasters, moulded strings and sills, jambs, arches, copings and finials; dry Delabole slate roofs with gabled cross wings with stepped finials; central octagonal lantern with lead dome on open Tuscan colonnade. PLAN: (original use): large irregular roughly square plan with loggia and vestibule to large stair hall with imperial staircase; newspaper and reading room behind stair hall; offices and strong room to cross wing on the left; lending library, small librarian's room, wider reference library, service stair, caretaker's accommodation and rear passage to cross wing on the right; cross passages flanking reading room. 1st floor has small science room and cloakroom in front of landing; council chamber and mayor's parlour on the left and science rooms on the right. Eclectic style combining Italianate, Renaissance, neo-classical and Flemish details. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; symmetrical 1:3:1-bay front. Cross wings have Venetian windows with inscriptions above framed by panelled pilasters, linked by 4 strings and surmounted by finials, and keyed round arch to 1st floor, and paired segmental-arched windows to ground floor; flanking end pilasters to each floor. Central distyle-in-antae Tuscan loggia; roll-moulded granite doorway with original pair of panelled doors behind, flanked by segmental-arched windows; moulded entablature above loggia (with name inscribed to frieze) surmounted by squat turned balustrade. 1st floor has 3 strings over Venetian window flanked by pilasters and narrower bays with round-arched windows. Casement windows to ground floor, sashes to 1st floor; central lights of Venetian windows of wings have glazing bars and spoked fanlight heads. INTERIOR retains most of its original features including: glazed screen between shallow vestibule and hall; granite flagged hall floor; open-string staircase with turned balusters and newels; moulded plaster ceiling cornices to principal rooms, the stair hall and reading room with deep coves, the reading room with 4 central panels; many panelled doors. The building was erected at a cost of £7,000, including £2,000 which was given by J Passmore Edwards and a bequest of £2,000 by Octavius Allen Ferris. Forms part of an important group in the centre of Falmouth, including the former Town Hall (q.v.), and comprises a good example of a Free Style library building of the late C19. (Best RS: The Life and Good Works of John Passmore Edwards: Redruth: 1981-: 45; Kelly: Kelly's Directory of Cornwall: London: 1910-: 105).

Listing NGR: SW8062032922

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 460228
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Best, R S , The Life and Good Works of John Passmore Edwards, (1981), 45
'Kellys Directory' in Cornwall, (1910), 105

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.