History Articles
History - May 2022
Platinum Jubilee Photography Competition
We’re running a photography competition to capture the 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrations. You can get involved (and maybe win a great prize too!) by submitting an image that captures your experience.
History - Mar 2022
Falklands 40: Thanksgiving Service Photo
40 years ago, on 2 April 1982, Argentinian forces invaded the Falkland Islands. Located in the South Atlantic, the islands are just 300 miles from the Argentinian mainland where they are known as the ‘Islas Malvinas’. They’d been a source of dispute between Britain and Argentina since the British first settled there in 1833.
History - Mar 2022
Ernest Shackleton
Ernest Henry Shackleton is widely known as one of the most inspirational leaders of the twentieth century and a key figure in the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’ alongside Roald Amundsen and Plymouth-born Robert Falcon Scott. The recent discovery of the Endurance, his ship that sank to the bottom of the Weddell Sea over a century ago, has amazed people around the world. Learn more about his story here.
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.
