Places to See
Passmore Edwards Centre: a jewel in the town
Newton Abbot’s outstanding and distinctive Passmore Edwards Centre, home of the town’s library service, has seen a dramatic transformation since its £2.8 million modernisation between 2009 and 2012 – including a thorough stonewashing of its Renaissance Revival frontage – and last year’s re- roofing works.
Built by John Passmore Edwards in memory of his mother, the Grade II listed building was designed by prominent 19th century Cornish architect Silvanus Trevail and opened in 1904 as a public library and science, art and technical school. It was funded by a donation of £2,500 from Passmore Edwards, public subscription and through local council funds and stands proud on the wide-open corner of Highweek Street and Market Street to the visual delight of visitors and locals alike who see it as a special jewel in the town. The library offers books, music, films, internet access and IT training, learning disability services, room hire, a nationally- important railway studies collection and a busy cafe. It regularly holds free half-hour children’s Storytime and Bounce and Rhyme sessions – the former involving picture book reading followed by themed crafts for ages two to seven, the latter with songs, nursery rhymes, bouncing and shouting for babies and toddlers. It also has a friends group to promote and help fund the facilities. The main centre is open from 9am-6pm Mon-Thurs, 9am-5pm Fri and 9am- 4pm Sat, contact 01392 384012.
Aller Brook Nature Reserve A wildlife corridor running either side of the watercourse between the A380 and Brunel Industrial Estate, from the end of Minerva Way to the Teign Estuary. For walkers, cyclists and wheelchair it links with the Templer Way. Estuary path tidal. Access from Collett Way.
Bakers Park Large open space with children’s play area, tennis courts, car park, football pitches and a footpath to the town centre. Gifted to the town in the late 1800s and laid out in 1905. Activities run by the Bakers Park Friends Group,
greenspaces@teignbridge.gov.uk or 01626 215751. On the A381Totnes Road bordering the historic Bradley Manor.
Bradley Manor Newton Abbot’s 13th century National Trust property, home of Alexandra and Peter Woolner, was established by the Bushel family, though only the south wing remains 13th century with the
28 NEWTON ABBOT TOWN GUIDE
Sheriff of Devon Richard Yarde building most of the present manor when it passed to his family in 1402. It was given to the Trust in 1938 by Mrs A.H. Woolner, daughter of Egyptologist Cecil Firth, a distant Yarde descendant, who bought the manor in 1909. The building is noted for its collection of pre- Raphaelite paintings, finely-crafted plaster work and joinery, its Great Hall, decorated fleur-de-lys room
and large family chapel. Open to the public until September 27 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11am-5pm. Standard admission is adult £7.90, child £4.00, family £19.60, 1 adult 2 children £11.80; parking, no toilets or refreshments. Details:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bradley. Off Totnes Road at Bakers Park.
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