History Articles
History - May 2026
Tribute to June Marlow
When singer and actress June Marlow was invited to record ‘the voice’ of the Elizabethan House just a few weeks before her 90th birthday, she may not have known it would be her last professional role but she did know it was one she could perform with pinpoint accuracy, drawing from her earliest experiences and channelling the voices and dialect of her birthplace: New Street on Plymouth’s historic Barbican. June sadly passed away in late February but her legacy lives on. Here we explore her life in a wonderful article featuring her own writing and recollections and compiled by her granddaughter Lauren Vandike.
History - Mar 2026
Springtime in the City: Explore Plymouth’s Art, Heritage and Hidden Gems
Spring is finally here, and the evenings are slowly getting lighter as we head towards the clocks changing. If you’re from further afield and planning a day trip to Plymouth, or looking for things to do in the Easter holidays, this guide will help you make the most of your visit. You can enjoy a full day exploring the city with plenty of time to experience what The Box has to offer too.
History - May 2025
VE Day 80: Make Do and Remember Through Wartime Wardrobes
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May, we’re taking a look at some of the items in the collections held at The Box that reflect the everyday resilience of civilians on the home front.
Press Release - Apr 2024
New blue plaque commemorates ground breaking Plymouth surgeon
A new blue plaque honouring a pioneering Plymouth surgeon and the first person to coin the term ‘vaccination’ has been unveiled in Devonport.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.