Plymouth Proprietary Library

Saturday 13th and Monday 15th September 2025: 10am - 2pm.

FREE for all - Heritage Open Days event.

Doreen Mole spent seventeen years conducting research on the history of Plymouth for Chris Robinson, MBE (and Patron of the PPL). After she passed away, her son donated the archive to the library. It contains research papers, photographs, maps, leaflets and books. Two of our volunteers have been busy processing the material.

In May of this year, the PPL was awarded a community grant from Plymouth City Council to purchase material to conserve the Doreen Mole archive. A selection of the archive will be on display. 

Saturday 20th September 2025 at 2pm.

FREE for all - Heritage Open Days event.

Ernest Francis Penrose, 'Pen', born and raised in Plymouth, claimed that the history and geography of Plymouth "gave some of us an essentially outward vision". Seeing action during the battles of the Somme, Passchendaele, Cambrai and Ypres confirmed his internationalist outlook and he devoted his life to the building of international institutions, peace and understanding.

This illustrated talk by Angela and Trevear Penrose will cover Pen's extraordinary life and how, as an academic, a diplomat and writer, he became involved in many of the most formative moments of the 20th century.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event.

Wednesday 8th October 2025 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

Her life - as dramatic and eventful as her fiction. Discover her deadly dispensary of poisons. Only outsold by the bible and Shakespeare, discover how Torquay's famous daughter came to enjoy worldwide success and legacy. A talk by Janet Sellick.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 22nd October 2025 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

This talk on Ann Glanville - 'the world's female champion rower' will be given by Saltash local historian Barry Brooking who will explore the facts of her life and the number of myths that came out surrounding her achievements.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Saturday 25th October 2025 at 2pm.

Free for members. £4 for non-members.

Rev. Tim Buckley (PPL trustee) launches his new book at the PPL: The Hearts of the Fathers, the second Adam Pennycome novel. Continuing many of the themes from the first book, it asks the question - what do you do when you can no longer ignore the past?

Join Tim as he discusses his new novel and read excerpts before taking questions from the audience. Refreshments will be provided.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 12th November 2025 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

A blue plaque in Turnchapel, Plymouth reads: 'On his return from India, T.E. Lawrence under the assumed name of Shaw was posted to a flying boat squadron at R.A.F. Mount Batten.' Find out more as speaker Ursula Myers returns to the PPL for an illustrated talk. 

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 26th November 2025 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

Chris Robinson (MBE and PPL Patron) returns to the PPL to talk about his new book 'A History of Plympton', the first attempt at a 'comprehensive' history of Plympton St Maurice, St Mary, Colebrook and Underwood, plus the many more recent developments. Chronicling well over a thousand years of the area's back story, this illustrated talk gives an account of what was 'a borough town when Plymouth was just a fuzzy down!' 

Saturday 6th December 2025.

The afternoon will include:

A short talk: Christmas: Good cheer, good times ... and goodwill to all?

Christmas trees, presents, puddings, party games and happy families - what could possibly go wrong? Elaine Henderson presents a light-hearted look at some Christmas themed crime classics, from such experts as Conan Doyle, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Agatha Christie. And finishing off with a short reading of one of the best, A Surprise for Christmas - now, who doesn't love a surprise?

More details about the afternoon to come.

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

Free for all.

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 when the library is open until Wednesday 21st Jan.

Wednesday 14th January 2026 at 2pm.

£4 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.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Saturday 24th January 2026: 2pm - 4pm

£4 for members. £8 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. 

Please contact the library in advance to book a place. Maximum: 15 places.

Wednesday 28th January 2026 at 2pm.

£4 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 ther service has developed in 200 years and what your local team get involved with today. 

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 11th February 2026 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

A talk by Chrissie le Marchant. More details to come.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 25th February 2026 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

After the Second World War, Plymouth was seeking to reduce its' dependance on the dockyard for employment, and with help from the Board of Trade began the task of attracting businesses to the area.

This illustrated talk by Alan Bricknell looks at the first three large companies to set up in Plymouth after the war, Tecalemit, Berkertex and Bush Radio, and also looks at one of Plymouth's largest home grown companies, Farleys.  

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Saturday 28th February 2026 at 2pm.

Free for members. £4 for non-members.

More details to come.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 25th March 2026 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

We tend to think of gardens as somewhere to relax, perhaps to socialise in, to grow flowers and perhaps some vegetables. However, in the Middle Ages, for many gardening was more closely related to agriculture, it was a neccessity not a luxury and was an essential part of survival. While for the wealthy it was a status symbol, because only the very wealthy could afford to put aside a piece of valuable land and use it purely for display and enjoyment.

This talk by Dr Lynda Pidgeon will look at a variety of gardens and their uses from the 12th to the 15th century, and along the way we will have a tour of some re-created gardens in England and Wales.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 8th April 2026 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

A talk by David Elliott. More details to come.  

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 22nd April 2026 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

Following Robert's talk on Drake's Island last year, this new talk uses recent images to provide a virtual walk around the island to discover what remains of the Island's defences, barracks and underground tunnels.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 27th May 2026 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

Dr Helen Wilson returns to the PPL following her sellout talk in 2025.

This talk is based on stories the speaker has come across on her research on the Pinwill sisters including those who met or worked for Violet Pinwill, or owned pieces of her work. Their recollections and insights contributed enormously to the research and their stories add a further perspective.  

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.

Wednesday 22nd July 2026 at 2pm.

£4 for members. £8 for non-members.

Simon Dell MBE returns to the PPL for a talk on Trywhitt's horse drawn tramway.

The Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway was constructed by Thomas Tyrwhitt in the 1820s. His horse drawn tramway ran from Princetown village down to Sutton Harbour in Plymouth. It was used to transport granite from his quarries and in return brought up various goods. This talk will look at the plans and the development for the tramway and with modern images there will be a virtual tour and stroll along its' whole 25 miles length.

To guarantee a seat, contact the library at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, simply turn up on the day.