J Passmore Edwards (1823-1911) is a fascinating character, from a humble home in a little Cornish village he became a City journalist, MP for Salisbury, Editor of a leading London newspaper, life-long champion of the working classes and is remembered as being a Benefactor Extraordinary ( R S Best 1981)
In just 14 years over 70 major buildings were established as a direct result of bequests from John Passmore Edwards as well as many other gifts and donations to further their good work. Hospitals, Libraries, Schools, Convalescent Homes and Art galleries were provided, many of which continue to serve the community to which they were given. (See below)
(For a detailed description of this man and his life please visit our Links & acknowledgments page where you will find a link to the excellent website by: Dean Evans who has kindly allowed us to use extracts from his work.)
Hospitals & Homes
Colony for the Employment of Epileptics, Bucks Cottage Hospital and Nurses home, Acton Wood Green Cottage Hospitals Cripples Home, Bournemouth
New Wing to West Ham Hospital Workingmen's Club Union Convalescent Home, Pegwell Bay Caxton Convalescent Home, Limpsfield Cottage Hospital Willesdon
Home for Little Boys, Swanley Convalescent Home for Friendly Societies, Herne Bay Tilbury Cottage Hospital Children's Holiday Home, Clacton
Convalescent Home for Charing Cross Hospital Teachers Orphanage, Sydenham Convalescent Home, Staplehurst, Kent Railwaymen's Convalescent Home, Herne Bay
Sailors Palace, Limehouse East Ham Hospital Canning Town Boys Club
Libraries & Galleries
Whitechapel Library & Museum South London Technical Institute Kingsland Road Library, Shoreditch Acton Public Library South London Art Gallery, Camberwell
St Georges in the East Public Library Technical Reference Library, St Bride's Institute, Fleet Street Borough Road Public Library Hammersmith Public Library
East Ham Public Library Nunhead Public Library West Ham Museum Edmonton Public Library Canning Town Free Library Dulwich Public Library
Passmore Edwards Hall, London School of Economics Passmore Edwards Settlement, Bloomsbury Limehouse Public Library Whitechapel Picture Gallery
Poplar Public Library Hoxton Public Library Plaistow Public Library
Plus 20 buildings in Devon & Cornwall and other gifts and donations. For details of his introduction to Freemasonry: Click here
