Description

FALMOUTH

SW8032NE CHURCH STREET
843-1/7/55 (West side)
22/07/49 Nos.24 AND 25
Polytechnic Hall

GV II*

Polytechnic hall, now a theatre. 1833 by George Wightwick.
Stucco on probable rubble. Rear wing (the auditorium) is
rubble with granite quoins and keyed segmental brick arches;
slurried scantle slate roof. Deep plan. Greek Revival style.
2 storeys; symmetrical 3-bay front. Channelled rustication to
ground floor. 1st floor recessed: tetrastyle Doric arrangement
with fluted columns and triglyphs to frieze; moulded window
architraves on sill brackets; central window with tapered
architrave; rear wing (the auditorium) is rubble with granite
quoins and keyed segmental brick arches; slurried scantle
slate roof. Original 12-pane sashes except glazing bars
removed from bottom of ground-floor sashes.
INTERIOR: moulded ceiling cornices to front rooms and entrance
hall, otherwise not inspected, but known to retain good
original features to 1st-floor rooms.
HISTORY: "The Royal Polytechnic Society was founded in 1833 by
Anna-Maria and Caroline, the two teenage daughters of Robert
Were Fox. As Quakers, they were concerned about the well-being
of the working classes and, under their father's guidance,
sought to create a means by which the artisans of the Perran
Foundry could exhibit their ideas and inventions to a wider
public and, in founding the Society, became the first in
Britain to use the word "Polytechnic" meaning "of many arts
and techniques". In 1834/5 this building was constructed with
a large hall to stage exhibitions (Gilson, p52), while the
rooms at the front housed the Public Dispensary, Savings Bank
and Subscription Library. The Society was involved in
pioneering the invention of photography, was responsible for
introducing such life-saving innovations as the safety fuse,
new types of explosives, ventilation of mines, wire ropes,
rock drilling and, perhaps most beneficial of all, the
"man-engine", designed to replace the dangerous ladders
attached to the walls of the shaft."
This building has national historic interest both as the first
polytechnic in the world and as the spawning ground of many of
the inventions and innovations which made an important
contribution towards the Industrial Revolution.
(Colvin H: A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects:
London: 1978-: 890; Gilson P: Falmouth in Old Photographs:
Falmouth: 1990-: 51 AND 52; Kelly: Kelly's Directory for
Cornwall: London: 1910-: 105).

Listing NGR: SW8091232686

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society at Wikipedia
• Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society official website
• Wikidata Q7374068

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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