Passmore Edwards Library

Do you know that feeling of going somewhere every day and being so familiar with it that you don’t see something special or obvious about it – and then feeling delighted when you notice it? That’s what I want to do with my art. I’ve been sketching again in Newton Abbot, in Devon, this time the Passmore Edwards Centre.

Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

It was built as a library and technical school by a philanthropist called John Passmore Edwards in memory of his mother who was born in the town. It was completed in 1904. Amazingly, it’s still an open public library.

It has a continuous plinth, cornices, triangular and curved window pediments, protruding pilasters and finials, and windows with mullions and transoms. The second floor has elaborate swags, finials and Gibbs surrounds to the windows. Looking at it has been a wonderful lesson in architectural terminology.

Part of my Postcards from Newton Abbot series of postcard-sized ink and watercolour sketches.

Ink: Platinum brun sepia pigmented ink
Pen: Sailor Fude de Mannen fountain pen
Watercolour: Derwent Graphitint watercolours

More Postcards from Newton Abbot

Penn Inn Underpass - Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

Splash in the underpass There's an art project which fascinates me next to a Sainsburys, the A380 flyover and a small stream called Aller… read more

Old Forde House - Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

Olde Forde House again I've already sketched Olde Forde House. It's a lovely place to spend an hour wandering the gardens, despite the noise… read more

Yellow Umbrella Gifts - Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

Yellow Umbrella Yellow Umbrella Gifts is a gift shop in Newton Abbot that I've enjoyed sketching on a postcard. It's full of… read more

Alleyway - Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

Mortuary Alley I'm not sure anyone's ever sketched this alleyway in Newton Abbot before. It's a commonly used cut-through filled with industrial… read more

The Abbot - Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Abbot I’ve been sketching in Newton Abbot again – this time on East Street and a historic pub called The Abbot. read more

Bill Opticians - Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

Bill Opticians This is the gloriously Art Deco building which houses Bill Opticians in Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot. Fabulous, isn’t it? read more

Sketching Newton Abbot - The Richard Hopkins - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Richard Hopkins I've been sketching in Newton Abbot again, this time the local Wetherspoons pub, The Richard Hopkins. Here's what the framed… read more

Sketching Newton Abbot - The Pharmacy Cafe - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Pharmacy I've been sketching in Newton Abbot again. There are still many historic places despite the widespread destruction of our heritage.… read more

Sketching Newton Abbot - Phoenix Sounds - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

Phoenix Sounds I've been sketching in Newton Abbot again. This time it's my local record shop, Phoenix Sounds. I love the vinyl… read more

Sal says:

5 February, 2025 at 4:29 pm

It’s a lovely building and a place where I spent so much of my childhood, being a book lover. And as I became older, it was a place where I would stop on the way home from Newton Abbot Grammar School ( another building that you could sketch..although it’s now Newton Abbot College…it has the words ‘Prudens Futuri’ under the clock on the front of the school. You probably know it?) , in order to pick up books for my mum or to lug home the Stanley Gibbons stamp album, just to check if I had collected anything of value!

John Passmore Edwards also gave public libraries to a number of towns in Cornwall as well as a couple in London. His name lives on!

David @ the HALL of EINAR says:

10 February, 2025 at 10:03 am

Yes, I spent many happy times taking my kids to the library there – and attending adult education sessions there. It’s beautifully designed.
I’ll have to sketch the schools eventually – I’ve always admired the old building at Newton Abbot College. Thanks Sal.

David @ the HALL of EINAR on How many notes in a call?It's only the males which make the familiar call. The females still call, but it's a bubbling, gurgling sound which is totally different!
adriancanadriancouk on How many notes in a call?We're hearing the cuckoos now in the SW Cambridgeshire countryside. Didn't know the females were mute, though!
David @ the HALL of EINAR on Red Kite huntingThanks very much Colin. If you're in the UK they're most likely to be Red Kites, but Black Kites are regular visitors in April and May as they migrate through.
Colin on Red Kite huntingSome pretty amazing pictures! I like to watch the quite numerous buzzards, red and black kites around where I live, but am never really sure if the kites are red or black.....
David @ the HALL of EINAR on Spectacular StarlingYes, the UK breeding population of Starlings declining by 82% between 1970 and 2022. That's a collapse.
David @ the HALL of EINAR on Are these the most northerly cliff-nesting House Martins in the UK?Thanks Bernard - it's always a thrill to find how common species associated with humans lived before we took over the natural world. I don't know about natural Barn Swallow nests - I'll have to...
David @ the HALL of EINAR on Are these the most northerly cliff-nesting House Martins in the UK?That's great Ben - thanks for letting me know.
Ben on Are these the most northerly cliff-nesting House Martins in the UK?Also known to cliff nest Ballard Down, Swanage, Dorset.
Sally Hallam on Spectacular StarlingYes, if they were rare, people would go mad over them! Mind you they are declining in numbers.

More Postcards from Newton Abbot

Related

Feel free to leave a Reply :)Cancel reply