by Leonora Ellis

Philanthropy no longer possesses the inspirational qualities which John Passmore Edwards embodied 130 years ago. Born on the 24th of March 1823, in Blackwater, near Redruth, Passmore’s work was charged with genuine aspirations for those less fortunate than himself. He had an ambition to be useful. Even as a young boy he was an activist; at the age of 12, inspired by the London periodical Penny Magazine, he felt “boyish flutterings of ambition to become known and useful in some way”, and he successfully nurtured these desires for the rest of his life.

Passmore saved his pennies to buy second-hand books, which he read by candlelight at the disapproval of his father, “hundreds and hundreds of times I pressed my thumbs firmly on my ears until they ached, in order to read with as little distraction as possible. In this way I managed frequently to entertain myself and pick up fragments of knowledge.” These early days encouraged his following promotion of the public library movement.

Passmore Edwards was the true definition of a philanthropist. But not only did his thoughts spread through England, he was aware of the welfare of other nations. His article Two Sisters (1848) was written about England and France; “to show that there was no shadow of reason or necessity that the two nations should look at each other with smouldering suspicion or as “natural enemies,” …but there was abundant reason and necessity why they should regard each other as natural friends.” Passmore Edwards believed it important to invest in international relations for the prosperity of all citizens. He went on to attend Brussels Peace Congress in September 1848, which was the first of its kind.

Today, however, the rich have become extremely rich, and the poor extremely ill-protected. You would think it a good thing, more rich people means more money to give away. In reality, there is too much money to give away, and the money isn’t being channelled to where it really needs to go.

Passmore was direct and sure of where his money was going and why it was going there. He always said the money he got was earned by others, for example it was the working classes who printed and distributed his newspapers. He would visit the places where his money would be helping, talk to the people living there, have genuine conversations face-to-face. Over a period of 16 years, he gave away 90% of his wealth, and he always remained involved, with a way of erasing the barrier between rich and poor.

He also never lost his love for Cornwall and the people. Passmore wanted to provide them with education and opportunities for growth. Aware that mining would not last forever, he looked ahead to how Cornwall could thrive because of the creative people living in the county: the artists, writers, teachers, and children. He was able to provide public libraries to:

Whitechapel, Shoreditch, Hoxton, Edmonton, Walworth, Hammersmith, East Dulwich, St. George’s-in-the-East, Acton, Poplar, Limehouse, Nunhead, East Ham, Plaistow, North Camberwell, Newton Abbot, Truro, Falmouth, Camborne, Redruth, St. Ives, Bodmin, Liskeard, and Launceston.

On Passmore Edward’s 200th anniversary, The Ladder celebrates the Cornish philanthropist’s buildings across the country, and the legacy he has left with them. A lot of the people using the buildings Passmore left behind have carried on his approach to social mobility and the idea that through learning everyone would progress. It is time for The Ladder to think about how they can use the spirit of Passmore in the Redruth Library and celebrate what’s new in Cornish communities.

Newlyn Gallery opened its doors in 1895, when the town needed a space to showcase artists work to the community, and Passmore agreed to finance the building. “The gallery at Newlyn has been redeveloped and adapted many times over its 122-year history”, says James Green Director at Newlyn Art Gallery, “Originally the building had one public gallery space on the first floor, which is still our main exhibition space today. The ground floor has changed considerably. Originally this was used as the private residence of the gallery’s Director or Curator, but has since been remodelled to provide a second, and now, third exhibition space, plus other facilities such as a gallery shop.”

Then in 2006, the gallery completed an award-winning extension, to create a beautiful first-floor room, “offering spectacular views across Mount’s Bay, which is now used to deliver community and arts activities.” There is also a garden café to the side of the building.

Green emphasises Passmore’s legacy in what the gallery does today, particularly using art as a means of social change. “During, and in the aftermath of the pandemic, our focus turned to supporting our immediate communities, often working in partnership with local charities such as Wild, and the Intercom Trust; Social Prescribing Link Workers and, in particular, with schools.”

Similarly to The Writers’ Block, who work in the Redruth Library alongside The Ladder, Newlyn Gallery has a strong initiative with schools in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, to nourish children’s and teachers’ creative education. “We believe that increasingly, individual creativity will become an essential skill employers will be looking for, and that will lead to greater social mobility (in the way it’s understood today).”

I ask James what The Ladder might learn from Newlyn at the beginning of their journey. “We talk about being hyper-local but internationally connected. I think Passmore Edwards would approve of that approach.”

“Throughout his life Passmore Edwards sought different routes to achieving his central beliefs around championing the working class and seeking to provide access to opportunities for all. Remain agile, adapt and change, be risk-taking, make mistakes and always keep a sharp eye on your social purpose.”

Dean Evans, a Passmore Edwards enthusiast who lives in Falmouth, came to Cornwall in 1989 working for the County Council. As he drove around, he kept on seeing Passmore’s name on buildings across Cornwall, from then on, he was “obsessed”. Dean says that most people don’t really know the extent of how much Passmore Edwards did in his life for communities across Cornwall and London.

Redruth is only aware of what he did in Redruth, and in London they think he was a Londoner!

“I hadn’t been in the library for maybe 10 years, and then I attended The Writers’ Block launch”, Dean explains, “I was sat near the entrance having a cuppa when a man came up to me and said it’s nice to be home.” Dean thought he must have been a librarian. But the man carried on explaining that he was born beneath the library, where his mother lived as a caretaker. “He said he often played ping pong at night when the library was empty.”

Dean is helping to celebrate John Passmore Edwards on his 200th anniversary across Cornwall and London in a series of coordinated events: art projects, walks, talks and debates.