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[Organisation] Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society[1]
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Name [Organisation] Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society [1] Nickname The Poly Birth Y [1] Gender Unknown Birth 1832 In 1832[2] the Fox family.[3] a prominent Quaker business[4] family of Falmouth, founded the Cornwall Polytechnic Society,[5] to promote the ideas and inventions of the workers in their Perran Foundry. This was the first use of the word ‘Polytechnic’ (meaning "of many arts and techniques") in Britain.[6]
In 1835 King William IV bestowed Royal Patronage on the Society, at the request of Davies Gilbert and it changed its name from the Cornwall Polytechnic Society to the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic SocietyResidence 1835 Polytechnic Hall, 24, Church Street, Falmouth 
In the same year [1835] the Polytechnic Hall was built, at 24 Church Street, Falmouth, being originally used for “objects connected with the sciences, arts and literature”, but not for theatrical purposes. This restriction was removed in 1889 to permit “dramatic plays”. The building was designed by George Wightwick. Residence 1889 Polytechnic Hall, 24, Church Street, Falmouth In the same year [1835] the Polytechnic Hall was built, at 24 Church Street, Falmouth, being originally used for “objects connected with the sciences, arts and literature”, but not for theatrical purposes. This restriction was removed in 1889 to permit “dramatic plays”. The building was designed by George Wightwick. Occupation [Role] member of Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Falmouth 1835 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Falmouth - In 1835 King William IV bestowed Royal Patronage on the Society, at the request of Davies Gilbert and it changed its name from the Cornwall Polytechnic Society to the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society.[ [1]1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, Falmouth and Penryn, Falmouth - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, Truro - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, Redruth - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, Camborne - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, St Day and Chacewater, Chacewater - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, Helston - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, Penzance and Marazion, Penzance - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, Hayle - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, St Austell and Fowey, St Austell - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, Liskeard and Bodmin, Liskeard - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee members1837 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society local Committee, Ladies Committee, Falmouth - By 1837, the Society had local Committees in Falmouth & Penryn, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St. Day & Chacewater, Helston, Penzance & Marazion, Hayle, St. Austell & Fowey, Liskeard and Bodmin, as well as a Ladies Committee. In all, there were 98 committee membersJanuary 1842 - [Devices] Man Engine - The device [man engine] was introduced to Cornwall in January 1842, following the award of a premium for the best design, by the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. The winner, Michael Loam, built one for the proprietors of the Tresavean Mine, in Lanner near Redruth.[10][11] He used a double-rod design, driven by a waterwheel.[1] [2]1858 - The Miners Association [1858] later Mining Institute, Falmouth - In 1858 the Society founded The Miners Association to better aid the mining industry. 1865 - [Event] Exhibition, Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Falmouth - At the 1865 Exhibition a first Silver Medal was awarded for Nobel’s nitro-glycerine, following a demonstration at Falmouth docks in which a wrought iron anvil of about three hundredweight was blown up by a small quantity, and a larger quantity scattered from forty to fifty tons of rock. Prentice's gun cotton was also demonstrated1867 - Tower Observatory (1867-1885), Victoria Cottages, Falmouth - Tower Observatory (1867-1885), Falmouth, built by Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society as meteorological observatory and fitted-out with Kew pattern instrument
1884 - [Role] Chairman of Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Falmouth - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace Falmouth Foundation stone laid by Lord Mount Edgecumbe, then president of Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society1884 - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace, Falmouth - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace Falmouth, built as meteorological observatory, replacing the Tower Observatory. Foundation stone laid by Lord Mount Edgecumbe, then president of Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. 1886, magnetic instruments added, located in basement (prone to flooding) and wooden enclosure in garden; observations continued until 1912 – observers included Wilson Lloyd Fox and E. Kitto (1907); observatory then transferred to Lerwick in Shetlands; building subsequently closed and sold-off by RCPS 19531886 - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace, Falmouth - 1886, magnetic instruments added, located in basement (prone to flooding) and wooden enclosure in garden; observations continued until 19121912 - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace, Falmouth - observations continued until 1912 – observers included Wilson Lloyd Fox and E. Kitto (1907); observatory then transferred to Lerwick in Shetlands1953 - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace, Falmouth - observatory then transferred to Lerwick in Shetlands; building subsequently closed and sold-off by RCPS 1953Person ID I15050 AHP Last Modified 28 Dec 2025
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Event Map 
Occupation - In 1835 King William IV bestowed Royal Patronage on the Society, at the request of Davies Gilbert and it changed its name from the Cornwall Polytechnic Society to the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society.[ - 1835 - Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Falmouth 
Occupation - The device [man engine] was introduced to Cornwall in January 1842, following the award of a premium for the best design, by the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. The winner, Michael Loam, built one for the proprietors of the Tresavean Mine, in Lanner near Redruth.[10][11] He used a double-rod design, driven by a waterwheel.[1] - January 1842 - [Devices] Man Engine 
Occupation - In 1858 the Society founded The Miners Association to better aid the mining industry. - 1858 - The Miners Association [1858] later Mining Institute, Falmouth 
Occupation - Tower Observatory (1867-1885), Falmouth, built by Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society as meteorological observatory and fitted-out with Kew pattern instrument - 1867 - Tower Observatory (1867-1885), Victoria Cottages, Falmouth 
Occupation - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace Falmouth, built as meteorological observatory, replacing the Tower Observatory. Foundation stone laid by Lord Mount Edgecumbe, then president of Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. 1886, magnetic instruments added, located in basement (prone to flooding) and wooden enclosure in garden; observations continued until 1912 – observers included Wilson Lloyd Fox and E. Kitto (1907); observatory then transferred to Lerwick in Shetlands; building subsequently closed and sold-off by RCPS 1953 - 1884 - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace, Falmouth Occupation - 1886, magnetic instruments added, located in basement (prone to flooding) and wooden enclosure in garden; observations continued until 1912 - 1886 - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace, Falmouth Occupation - observations continued until 1912 – observers included Wilson Lloyd Fox and E. Kitto (1907); observatory then transferred to Lerwick in Shetlands - 1912 - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace, Falmouth Occupation - observatory then transferred to Lerwick in Shetlands; building subsequently closed and sold-off by RCPS 1953 - 1953 - Falmouth Observatory (1884-1953), Western Terrace, Falmouth = Link to Google Earth Pin Legend 
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Sources - [S37] Wikipedia.
The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (commonly known as The Poly) is an educational, cultural and scientific charity,[1] as well as a local arts and cinema venue, based in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The Society exists to promote innovation in the arts and sciences.
An Image of Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
History
1897 Annual Report with portrait of Anna Maria Fox
In 1832[2] the Fox family.[3] a prominent Quaker business[4] family of Falmouth, founded the Cornwall Polytechnic Society,[5] to promote the ideas and inventions of the workers in their Perran Foundry. This was the first use of the word ‘Polytechnic’ (meaning "of many arts and techniques") in Britain.[6]
In 1835 King William IV bestowed Royal Patronage on the Society, at the request of Davies Gilbert and it changed its name from the Cornwall Polytechnic Society to the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society.[7][8]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Cornwall_Polytechnic_Society - [S37] Wikipedia.
The device was introduced to Cornwall in January 1842, following the award of a premium for the best design, by the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. The winner, Michael Loam, built one for the proprietors of the Tresavean Mine, in Lanner near Redruth.[10][11] He used a double-rod design, driven by a waterwheel.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_engine
- [S37] Wikipedia.