Plymouth Proprietary Library

Launch: Saturday 10th January 2026: 10am - 2pm.

Works produced by members of the PPL watercolour group will be on display. Following the launch on Saturday 10th Jan (10am - 2pm), the paintings will remain on display until Wednesday 21st Jan.

Wednesday 14th January 2026 at 2pm.

£5 for members. £8 for non-members.

Pamela Vass returns to the PPL to tell the story of Mary Kelynack. Mary spent her entire life in the small community of Newlyn in the far west of Cornwall. Yet in 1851 she was so inspired by the wonders of the Great Exhibition in London that she resolved to go, one way or another. Travelling by coach or train was beyond her means but there was one thing she could do - walk.

Before long she became a celebrity - taking tea with the Lord Mayor, being interviewed by the Illustrated London News, modelled by a famous sculptor, having a polka named after her ... and even greeting the Queen.

Friday 16th January 2026 at 2pm.

Railways of Cornwall - Full Mocumentary.

Join Rosalind and James on their railway adventure across picturesque Cornwall. Together they travel by tracks from Plymouth to Penzance calling at Looe, Falmouth, Gunnislake and many more historic stations. © all rights reserved - Lucky Everett 

'Dressed To Kill' - featuring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes.

A series of murders grips London after three identical music boxes—crafted by inmates of Dartmoor Prison—are auctioned following the death of their maker, a disgraced forger named John Davidson. Each box plays a slightly different tune, and together the melodies hide a coded message revealing the whereabouts of engraved printing plates used to counterfeit Bank of England notes. . . . 

Saturday 24th January 2026: 2pm - 4pm

£10 for members. £15 for non-members.

Is there a novel, a play or a poem in your head battling to get out? Join prizewinning novelist and playwright (and PPL patron) Babs Horton for a 2 hour writing workshop to explore your creativity and hone your writing skills.

Wednesday 28th January 2026 at 2pm.

£5 for members. £8 for non-members.

The Plymouth coastguard search and rescue team consists of 15 volunteers who are ready to respond to a wide variety of incidents 24/7 and 365 days a week covering in excess of 50 miles of coastline and tidal river frontage working alongside other emergency services. Since its' true formation in 1822, the service has come a long way and today harnesses new technologies 'To Search, to Rescue, to Save'. 

Come along to hear about how the service has developed in 200 years and what your local team get involved with today.