History Articles
History - Dec 2021
When good music in the city was as easy as ABC
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Plymouth hosted some of the biggest acts in music, from The Beatles to T-Rex and The Rolling Stones to Elton John. They all played in one of the few buildings in the city centre to survive the Blitz and subsequent rebuilding, the ABC Cinema on Athenaeum Place.
History - Oct 2021
Educating Elau
As part of Black History Month 2021, our Archivist uncovers the story of the first recorded Indigenous person to travel from Vanuatu to England. Her name was Elau and she was a seven year old girl from Erromango in the South Pacific.
History - Oct 2021
Would you like to help research Plymouth and west Devon in the 1920s?
'Devon in the 1920s' is a research project hosted by Devon History Society in partnership with The Box, the South West Heritage Trust and the Devon Family History Society. Individual researchers and local heritage groups are currently beavering away, researching local people and places from the 1920s.
Press Release - Jul 2021
New blue plaque highlights artist’s links with Devonport
A new blue plaque highlighting a special link with celebrated 18th century portrait artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds has been unveiled at Devonport Market Hall today – the 298th anniversary of his birth.
Press Release - Jun 2021
Elizabethan House set to reopen this July with new immersive audio-visual experience
Plymouth’s Elizabethan House will reopen on Tuesday 20 July following a major restoration as part of Plymouth’s Mayflower 400 commemorations.
History - Apr 2021
Blue plaque unveiled in honour of Plymouth air raid shelter
A new plaque marking the site of an air raid shelter where nine people tragically lost their lives during the Blitz has been unveiled today.
History - Apr 2021
Blitz 80: King George VI microphone
This microphone with its chrome mouthpiece and black plastic base is from our historic collections and was used at a really important event connected to World War II.
History - Apr 2021
Blitz 80: Images from the archives
Royal visits, the role of women, that famous Resurgam sign and the re-building of the city.....here are some more insights about Plymouth and World War II to mark Blitz 80 using some key images from our archives.
History - Apr 2021
Plymouth History Festival 2021
The Plymouth History Festival is set to return this year. It will run from 7-30 May with a series of exciting events brought to you from local heritage groups and The Box. The overarching theme for this year's Festival is wellbeing.
History - Apr 2021
Blitz 80: Insights from the archives
We'll be continuing to mark the 80th anniversary of the Blitz throughout April. Here, thanks to documents held within the city's archives, we highlight two lesser-known stories about Plymouth during the Second World War.
History - Apr 2021
Blitz 80: The Bomb Book
We continue our commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the Plymouth Blitz with a document, well-known to many as the ‘bomb book’. It was compiled during World War II by the Town Clerk’s Department, which was based at Pounds House. It and can be seen on display in our 'Active Archives' gallery when we re-open from 18 May.
Art - Mar 2021
Blitz 80: Aftermath of The Blitz
80 years ago Plymouth was reeling from two massive bombing raids which marked the start of the Blitz. This oil painting from our art collections dates from 1947 and is called ‘Aftermath of the Blitz‘.
