History Articles

Archives insight: Devonport 200 | The Box Plymouth
History - Jan 2024

Archives insight: Devonport 200

Did you know 1 January 2024 marks the 200th anniversary of the town of Dock (or Plymouth-Dock) becoming known as Devonport?

Archives insight: A Plymouth doctor's gallantry | The Box Plymouth
History - Sep 2023

Archives insight: A Plymouth doctor's gallantry

The Box is currently remembering the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the NHS through telling the story of the courage and self-sacrifice of Dr Alison Jean McNairn (afterwards Jesson) in our Active Archives gallery.

Archives insight: Refugee Week 2023 - Meet the Huguenots | The Box Plymouth
History - Jun 2023

Archives insight: Refugee Week 2023 - Meet the Huguenots

For this year's 'Refugee Week' we're looking at the story of the Huguenots - French Protestants who took refuge in some of our towns and cities, including Plymouth, in the late 1600s. They brought a range of valuable skills with them and introduced the word ‘refugee’ into the English language.

Archive insight: A dream of a new life overseas | The Box Plymouth
History - Jun 2023

Archives insight: A dream of a new life overseas

Have you been watching the BBC's latest historical drama 'Ten Pound Poms'? This image from our archives shows a family about to embark on the scheme that saw over a million people try and make their homes in Australia.

Raising a glass to World Poetry Day 2023
History - Mar 2023

Raising a glass to World Poetry Day 2023

Last year we received a typescript copy of an anonymous poem into our archives. It describes a pub crawl around Devonport and is believed to have been written in the 1930s.

Discover 'The World of Stonehenge' | The Box Plymouth
Press Release - Feb 2023

Discover 'The World of Stonehenge'

Plymouth Archaeology Society is delighted to be hosting a talk at the University of Plymouth on 6 March by Dr Neil Wilkin, British Museum Curator of Early Europe.

The Boer War | The Box Plymouth
Press Release - Jan 2023

The Boer War

The second Boer War of 1899-1902 is a conflict probably few of us know much about. It lies just beyond living memory yet has left a permanent imprint on Plymouth in monuments of stone.

John Foulston and the Plymouth Proprietary Library | The Box Plymouth
History - Dec 2022

John Foulston and the Plymouth Proprietary Library

The Plymouth Proprietary Library is an active subscription library founded in 1810. Known as the Plymouth Public Library until 1881, here we explore the history of its architecture and its connection with leading English architect John Foulston.

To Australia via Plymouth: A Tale of Cornish Migration | The Box Plymouth
History - Nov 2022

To Australia via Plymouth: A Tale of Cornish Migration

Between 1840 and 1900, just over 430,000 British people passed through Plymouth, seeking a new life overseas. Some travelled with hope, some with trepidation. All had a long journey ahead of them. The majority were travelling to Australia and New Zealand. Canada, America and South Africa were also popular destinations. The Plymouth Government Emigration Depot which helped many of them is the subject of a display case in our Active Archives gallery this autumn.

Archive insight: Plymouth and the tale of a Brazilian pirate ship | The Box Plymouth
History - Oct 2022

Archive insight: Plymouth and the tale of a Brazilian pirate ship

The Box’s archives are home to many forgotten stories from Plymouth’s past. Here we explore the events surrounding Brazilian pirate slavers who were captured by the Royal Navy and transported to Plymouth for trial. This story is recorded in documents from our archives, some of which are on display in the Active Archives gallery.

Behind The Scenes: Uncovering past lives at Mount Folly | The Box Plymouth
History - Sep 2022

Behind The Scenes: Uncovering past lives at Mount Folly

Since 2003, the 'Mount Folly Enclosures Project' near Bigbury-on-Sea has been uncovering evidence of past lives. The project is one of the largest community excavations in southern England, and a variety of artefacts have been discovered.

Happy 40th to Theatre Royal Plymouth | The Box Plymouth
History - Sep 2022

Happy 40th to Theatre Royal Plymouth

2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the Theatre Royal, Plymouth (TRP) which is enjoying a month of celebrations until mid-October - but did you know that today’s building is the fourth of that name in Plymouth?