Plymouth Athenaeum

The Devon & Cornwall Natural History Society and the Plymouth Mechanics Institute amalgamated with the Plymouth Institution in 1899, they later became The Plymouth Athenaeum when they moved to their current building in 1961.

Today, The Plymouth Athenaeum is a charity dedicated to the study and promotion of learning in science, technology, literature and art.

Over the course of it's history, Scientist Charles Darwin and renowned stamp dealer Stanley Gibbons are among the many distinguished figures to have been members of the Charity.

Notable visitors to the modern Athenaeum include The Beatles, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Malcolm McDowell, Harry Secombe, John Nettles and Angela Rippon.

A member of the Independent Libraries Association, The Plymouth Athenaeum Library has around 3,500 books and archive material including complete volumes of the Charity’s Transactions and Proceedings, and has access to over 7,000 newspaper and magazine titles from 120+ countries in 60+ languages.

The Plymouth Athenaeum has a range of rooms and spaces available for hire. From a 340-seat theatre to a bright and airy lounge, lecture hall and meeting rooms.