Local History Bonanza Day
10am to 4pm
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. No need to book

Come and meet your local area history groups, learn more about the work they do and find out how you and your community can get involved. This special event which kickstarts the 2022 Plymouth History Festival features information stands, quizzes, trails, information about how to research your family tree, fun activities for children. Listen to a fascinating series of free talks that explore the heritage of our Ocean City. See a display of photos and memorabilia that highlight Plymouth’s role on the Falklands conflict 40 years ago.

Talks schedule

Foulston Room (first floor)

• 11.30am: Environment Plymouth Heritage Conversation – Jackie Young, facilitator of the Environment Plymouth Network, looks at the impact of potential sea level rises and flooding on graveyards and burial sites. This session includes some interesting background on missing cholera pits, the former harbour at Devonport High School for Boys and Victoria Park, the work done to limit damage in the city centre and the reason why some archaeological digs now require full protective clothing.
• 1pm: Polish naval memories from WW2 – Martin Hazell reflects on how Plymouth was the Polish naval Southern command HQ throughout the war.
• 3pm: Water, Water Everywhere – A collection of fascinating footage from the archives compiled and curated by The Box Media Archive Team.

Simmons Learning Room (ground floor)

• 10.30am: HMS Plymouth and the Falklands Campaign – Commander David Sayer RN talks about his experiences as Squadron Warfare Officer on HMS Plymouth 40 years ago. The ship was central in the Argentinian surrender in South Georgia, and then went on to acquit herself with great valour in Bomb Alley (Falklands Sound). Commander Sayer went on later to be Captain of HMS Glasgow
• 1.30pm: Reconnaissance is never wasted – Ewen Southby Tailyour discusses choosing a landing site in the Falklands (May 1982) and subsequent landing craft operations.
• 2.30pm: Completing the task in the Falklands – Nick Vaux and Chrys Ward describe the final operations leading to completion of the Falklands campaign.

Spring 2022 Exhibitions and Galleries
10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holidays
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

Local and maritime history, natural history, film, photography and archives….. Craft, sculpture, contemporary art inspired by historic objects, social history, fine art, fashion and textiles….. There’s plenty to see and enjoy in The Box’s permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions this May.

Find out more here.

Artists in Residence Exhibition
12.30pm-3.30pm
Ford Park Cemetery Visitor Centre, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

An exhibition celebrating the lives and paintings of some of our local artists including Beryl Cook, William Gibbons and John Oxley Nash.

Spring 2022 Exhibitions and Galleries
10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holidays
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

Local and maritime history, natural history, film, photography and archives….. Craft, sculpture, contemporary art inspired by historic objects, social history, fine art, fashion and textiles….. There’s plenty to see and enjoy in The Box’s permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions this May.

Find out more here.

Hart of Plymouth
11am and 4pm
The Vestry, Plymouth Synagogue Catherine St, PL1 2AD
£5 per person. Cash on the door

A performance lecture about Plymouth-born Solomon Hart who became the first Jewish member of the Royal Academy of Arts with a giant painting that hung in the old Plymouth Municipal Building – a painting that hasn’t been seen for over 100 years. Performed by Derek Frood. 

Walks with History – Royal William Yard
Starts at 11am
Meet at the entrance to the yard on Mount Stone Road, PL1 3RW
£5 per person. Pay on the day. Advance booking is essential

Join ‘Walks with History’ for a walk through the historic yard and explore the buildings that kept the Royal Navy fed at sea. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must. 

Places must be booked via walkswithhistory@gmail.com or 07443 890933 (6-8pm only).

Ford Park Cemetery Exhibition – Artists in Residence Exhibition
12.30pm-3.30pm
Ford Park Cemetery Visitor Centre, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

An exhibition celebrating the lives and paintings of some of our local artists including Beryl Cook, William Gibbons and John Oxley Nash.

Behind The Scenes Tours
1pm-1.45pm and 2pm-2.45pm
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
£10. Advance booking is essential

Join The Box’s Senior Archivist for a 45-minute behind the scenes tour as part of the 2022 Plymouth History Festival. Learn how we manage, maintain and move our collections across our site and discover more about why we decided to bring some of Plymouth’s most historically important archives together under one roof. Please note that some of our spaces behind-the-scenes feature stairs and enclosed spaces. Advance booking is essential via The Box’s website. 

Ford Park Cemetery Guided Walk – Artists in Residence
2pm-3.30pm
Meet at the Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. No need to book

This afternoon walk will be conducted by members of the Heritage Team who will take the public on a guided walk of the cemetery, visiting the graves of local artists and/or their families and sharing the stories of their lives.

Artists in Residence Exhibition
10.30am-3.30pm
Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

An exhibition celebrating the lives and paintings of some of our local artists including Beryl Cook, William Gibbons and John Oxley Nash.

Walks with History – Plymouth Railway Station and St Budeaux: Plymouth’s New Transport Interchange
Starts at 11am
£5 per person. Pay on the day. Advance booking is essential

Join Walks with History for a tale of two railway stations, a ferry and two bridges.

Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must.

Places must be booked via walkswithhistory@gmail.com  or 07443 890933 (6-8pm only). The travel from /to Plymouth by train is part of the walk but is a paid optional extra.

Tall Tales and Wonder Rooms
The Arts Institute Film Commission Premiere
7pm-8pm
Jill Craigie Cinema, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA
Free. Advance booking is essential

Selected for The Arts Institute Film Commission 2021, the premiere of ‘Tall Tales and Wonder Rooms’ will be introduced by winning filmmaker Mohini Chandra.

Working closely with the film archive at The Box, Mohini has created a beautiful piece delving into the tales and hidden histories of Plymouth’s waters and the city’s links to the wider world.

Alongside Mohini, this film will have an additional introduction from Mallory Haas, Director of The SHIPS Project – a Plymouth based non-profit organisation that undertakes research and exploration of maritime historical sites and events, both on land and underwater. This enchanting film was produced in collaboration with The SHIPS Project.

Find out more here.

Anchorage Tour
Tamar Bridge Visitor Centre, Pemros Road, St Budeaux, Plymouth PL5 1LP
10am-11.30am
Free. Advance booking is essential

Join a Tamar Crossings volunteer tour guide to find out more about what goes on behind the scenes at the Tamar Bridge. You’ll go inside the anchorage and see an area normally closed to the public.

Given the nature of the location of the anchorage (an enclosed space with steep steps), we may not be able to meet certain specific accessibility requirements. Please note a minimum age of 11 years applies to this tour.

This event is free but pre-booking is required here.

Spring 2022 Exhibitions and Galleries
10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holidays
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

Local and maritime history, natural history, film, photography and archives….. Craft, sculpture, contemporary art inspired by historic objects, social history, fine art, fashion and textiles….. There’s plenty to see and enjoy in The Box’s permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions this May.

Find out more here.

High Street Heritage Action Zone Tuesday Trundle #1
10.30am for an 11am start
Meet by the Local Heroes of Plymouth sculptures in the middle of the North Cross Roundabout
Free. Advance booking essential

Access all areas! The city centre of Plymouth became the ‘new major’ shopping centre of the West Country after WWII. Plans were put in place during the war and the vision was put together at speed. Come and explore the footprint of the original ring road, with its roundabouts and long lost pedestrian subways that were a main feature of the original design.

Book vis mrsdmaughan@gmail.com

Bridging the Tamar Guided Tour
Tamar Bridge Visitor Centre, Pemros Road, St Budeaux, Plymouth, PL5 1LP
11am-12pm
Free. Advance booking is essential

Join Tamar Crossings for a guided tour of the two wonderful bridges spanning the River Tamar, an iconic part of Plymouth’s maritime heritage.

Join Tamar Crossings for a guided tour of the two wonderful bridges spanning the River Tamar, an iconic part of Plymouth’s maritime heritage.

We will start the talk in the amphitheatre at the Bridging the Tamar Centre, a viewpoint that offers stunning views of the Tamar Bridge, Royal Albert Bridge and the river. We will then walk onto the Tamar Bridge, where we can look more closely at the road bridge and experience the wonderful views of the river and the Royal Albert Bridge.

The tour will take between 40 minutes to an hour depending on questions and the pace of the group. The event is free but booking is required here.

The Past, Present and Future of Drake’s Island
A Historical Association and University of Plymouth History Department talk
7pm-8.30pm
Theatre 2, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus PL4 8AA
See below for prices. Advance booking advised

Drake’s Island has long been a fascination for the people of Plymouth. The talk will explore the history of the Island as a private place of pilgrimage for the Valletort Family, a Tax Collection centre, a Refuge, Fort, State Prison and Adventure Centre.

It will take a close look at how the Garrison and Adventure Centre staff lived and worked on the Island. A photographic tour of the Island now, and how the Island will be incorporated into the desired vision of the current owner will be followed by ample opportunity to ask questions.

Robert King, Drake’s Island Warden, is a Royal Engineer veteran of 22 years. He spent 10 years running Marine Conservation sites in South East Asia and the Caribbean.

Standard £6 / Concessions £4 / Free for UoP students via SPiA / Free for members of the Historical Association and for members of the Devon History Society. Find out more here.

Spring 2022 Exhibitions and Galleries
10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holidays
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

Local and maritime history, natural history, film, photography and archives….. Craft, sculpture, contemporary art inspired by historic objects, social history, fine art, fashion and textiles….. There’s plenty to see and enjoy in The Box’s permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions this May.

Find out more here.

Artists in Residence Exhibition
10.30am-3.30pm
Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

An exhibition celebrating the lives and paintings of some of our local artists including Beryl Cook, William Gibbons and John Oxley Nash.

Bitesize Talk: Figured and Formed
1pm-1.45pm
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Advance booking is essential

Come and explore the two themes that are highlighted in the nationally touring ‘Breaking the Mould: Sculpture by Women since 1945’ exhibition in the historic St Luke’s church.

This informal talk will focus on the pieces that are on show by artists Elisabeth Frink, Sokari Douglas Camp, Sarah Lucas, Mary Kelly, Rana Begum and Lygia Clark. 

Find out more here.

Where Am I? Talk
3pm-4.30pm
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Advance booking is essential

Until 23 June 2022, The Box is hosting an exhibition entitled ‘Where Am I?’ which has been co-curated and designed with Culture Club, in partnership with Pride in Plymouth.

This year’s Culture Club group has been made up of people connected to the LGBTQ+ community who have interrogated The Box’s collections through a queer lens to explore the lived experiences of different communities. This talk, from members of the group, will highlight some of the questions they found themselves raising.  

Find out more here.

Plymouth, Devonport & Stonehouse in the 19th Century
A talk by Alan Bricknell
7.30pm-8.30pm
Victorian Chapel, Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
£4. No need to book. Pay on the door

It is possible that when we think of the 19th century, we have an idealised view of people’s lives based on the way in which they are depicted in films and dramas in cinemas and on television.

But the reality for most who lived during that period was far removed from the posh frocks and grand homes of the well-to-do. According to the census of 1851 the Three Towns were the eighth largest conurbation in England and a survey ranked the area as seventh in national unhealthiness.

This illustrated talk looks at what life was really like in the Three Towns for a large part of the population in terms of health, housing and industry.

Spring 2002 Exhibitions and Galleries
10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holidays
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

Local and maritime history, natural history, film, photography and archives….. Craft, sculpture, contemporary art inspired by historic objects, social history, fine art, fashion and textiles….. There’s plenty to see and enjoy in The Box’s permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions this May.

Find out more here.

Artists in Residence Exhibition
10.30am-3.30pm
Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

An exhibition celebrating the lives and paintings of some of our local artists including Beryl Cook, William Gibbons and John Oxley Nash.

Bridging the Tamar Guided Tour
2pm-3pm
Tamar Bridge Visitor Centre, Pemros Road, Plymouth PL5 1LP
Free. Advance booking is essential

Join Tamar Crossings for a guided tour of the two wonderful bridges spanning the River Tamar, an iconic part of Plymouth’s maritime heritage.

We will start the talk in the amphitheatre at the Bridging the Tamar Centre, a viewpoint that offers stunning views of the Tamar Bridge, Royal Albert Bridge and the river. We will then walk onto the Tamar Bridge, where we can look more closely at the road bridge and experience the wonderful views of the river and the Royal Albert Bridge.

The tour will take between 40 minutes to an hour depending on questions and the pace of the group. The event is free but booking is required here.

Elizabethan House Tour
4pm-5pm
32 New Street, The Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2NA
See below for prices. Advance booking is essential

Plymouth’s own Elizabethan House was recently restored and re-interpreted as a heritage attraction for the city.

In the course of this project, however, some darker stories emerged about the house and the wider barbican area. Come along for an guided excursion into the heritage of the city.

Adults £5. Children £2.50. Under 5s free. Group (up to 2 adults and 3 children) £12. The Box members and carers free. Booking essential via The Box website. Please select 12 May on the calendar and book your ticket.

Stoke Community Curation Event
10am to 3pm
The Village Hub, Devonport Road, Stoke, Plymouth PL3 4DL
Free. Get in touch to find out how you can get involved

Following on from the success of last year’s exhibition at The Hub. Volunteers from the area will be again working with members of the Plymouth Community Heritage Network and students from Plymouth Marjon University to explore ways of curating their own community exhibition at The Hub. The aim is not only to showcase the remarkable stories of residents, past and present, but also to work with Stoke residents to explore ways that value and celebrate our shared histories and sense of place. The Hub is accepting items for the exhibition now. 

If you would like to get involved as a local resident either to loan some of your items of interest, to come along and learn how to curate an exhibition of social history from the experts and be part of the team who deliver it, or simply to pop in and be wowed by the lives of residents, please get in touch! It’s free to participate. If you’d like to get involved please email The Village Hub at hello@thevillagehub.org.uk.

Spring 2022 Exhibitions and Galleries
10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holidays
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

Local and maritime history, natural history, film, photography and archives….. Craft, sculpture, contemporary art inspired by historic objects, social history, fine art, fashion and textiles….. There’s plenty to see and enjoy in The Box’s permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions this May.

Find out more here.

Artists in Residence Exhibition
10.30am-3.30pm
Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

An exhibition celebrating the lives and paintings of some of our local artists including Beryl Cook, William Gibbons and John Oxley Nash.

Spring 2022 Exhibitions and Galleries
10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holidays
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

Local and maritime history, natural history, film, photography and archives….. Craft, sculpture, contemporary art inspired by historic objects, social history, fine art, fashion and textiles….. There’s plenty to see and enjoy in The Box’s permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions this May.

Find out more here.

Bridging the Tamar Guided Tour
11am-12pm
Tamar Bridge Visitor Centre, Pemros Road, Plymouth PL5 1LP
Free. Advance booking is essential

Join Tamar Crossings for a guided tour of the two wonderful bridges spanning the River Tamar, an iconic part of Plymouth’s maritime heritage.

We will start the talk in the amphitheatre at the Bridging the Tamar Centre, a viewpoint that offers stunning views of the Tamar Bridge, Royal Albert Bridge and the river. We will then walk onto the Tamar Bridge, where we can look more closely at the road bridge and experience the wonderful views of the river and the Royal Albert Bridge.

The tour will take between 40 minutes to an hour depending on questions and the pace of the group. The event is free but booking is required here.

Walks with History – Mount Wise and Falklands 40
Starts at 11am
Meet at Mutton Cove Car Park, Mount Wise, Plymouth PL1 4LB
£5. Pay on the day. Advance booking is essential

Join Walks with History exploring this historic part of Devonport with town walls, palatial mansions and a naval command centre. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must. 

Places must be booked via walkswithhistory@gmail.com or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only).

Devonport Dockyard Sailors’ Pub Walk
Meet from 11.30am for a 12.00pm start.
Meet Royal Navy Pub, 190 Saltash Road, PL2 2BD, opposite HMS Drake Barracks Gate
£5 donation collected on the day. Donations will go to MIND Charity. Please email  rockettfish@yahoo.co.uk to reserve a place. Booking essential.   Numbers limited to 40.

Richard Fisher of Fisher’s Footsteps will lead the walk supported by Martin Hazell, folk singer. The walk was originally conceived by the late Lucy Luxmoore, who formed Devonport Park Community Choir.  Based on a poem on the wall of the Magnet Pub, Devonport, which traces the sailors’ journey through Devonport from pub to pub.   With the assistance of some members of Devonport Park Community Choir the relevant verse will be sung near each pub. Some pubs may be visited.
Starting from Royal Navy Arms Pub for registration and refreshments, we follow the route of the pubs looking at the history of the area, lost pubs, changed names, etc. Break at Steam Packet Pub, North Corner for refreshments. Second half of the walk continues to Mutton Cove where it ends. 
Words of the song may be found on Devonport Park Community Choir Facebook page. Please note, the whole walk is about 3 hours with a break after about 1.5 hour

Artists in Residence Exhibition
12.30am-3.30pm
Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

An exhibition celebrating the lives and paintings of some of our local artists including Beryl Cook, William Gibbons and John Oxley Nash.

Dress Code: Queering the Mannequin
2pm-3pm
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Advance booking is essential

In conjunction with Pride in Plymouth and The Box’s Culture Club of 2021 team (who co-curated the ‘Where Am I?’ exhibition – on display until 23 June), this workshop/discussion will explore how identity can be signified, withheld or queered through acts of performance and the signals we send each other through the way we look.

Find out more here.

Devon Family History Society Virtual Talk
2.30pm-4pm
Online only 

Join Graham Hart to explore the exciting world of genealogy. To find out more attend this talk please contact the DFHS via their website here. 

Spring 2022 Exhibitions and Galleries
10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and Bank Holidays
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

Local and maritime history, natural history, film, photography and archives….. Craft, sculpture, contemporary art inspired by historic objects, social history, fine art, fashion and textiles….. There’s plenty to see and enjoy in The Box’s permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions this May.

Find out more here.

Hart of Plymouth
11am and 4pm
The Vestry, Plymouth Synagogue, Catherine Street, Plymouth PL1 2AD
£5 per person. Cash on the door

A performance lecture about Plymouth-born Solomon Hart who became the first Jewish member of the Royal Academy of Arts with a giant painting that hung in the old Plymouth Municipal Building – a painting that hasn’t been seen for over 100 years. Performed by Derek Frood. 

Walks with History – The Plymouth Town Walls
Starts at 11am
Meet at The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
£5. Pay on the day. Advance booking is essential

Join Walks with History exploring the eastern side of the once walled town of Plymouth. Start point: Outside The Box, Tavistock Place, PL4 8AX at 11am. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must. 

Places must be booked via walkswithhistory@gmail.com or 07443 890933 (6-8pm only).

Artists in Residence Exhibition
12.30pm-3.30pm
Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

An exhibition celebrating the lives and paintings of some of our local artists including Beryl Cook, William Gibbons and John Oxley Nash.

Behind The Scenes Tours
1pm-1.45pm and 2pm-2.45pm
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
£10. Advance booking is essential

Join The Box’s Senior Archivist for a 45-minute behind the scenes tour as part of the 2022 Plymouth History Festival. Learn how we manage, maintain and move our collections across our site and discover more about why we decided to bring some of Plymouth’s most historically important archives together under one roof. Please note that some of our spaces behind-the-scenes feature stairs and enclosed spaces. Advance booking is essential via The Box’s website. 

Walks with History – In Search of Pudding Lane
Starts at 3pm
Meet at The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX
£5. Pay on the day. Advance booking is essential

Join Walks with History exploring the historic Barbican whilst looking out for blue plaques, historic buildings and opes. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must. 

Places must be booked via walkswithhistory@gmail.com or 07443 890933 (6-8pm only).

Plympton History Week
10.00am – 2.00pm
Plympton and District Civic Society, Harewood House, Ridgeway, Plympton PL7 2AS
Free Entry. Refreshments available
The Plympton Heritage Room will be open to visitors. For more information please email plymptoncivicsociety@gmail.com Tel: 07769 688122 or 07883 011539

The Village Hub Exhibition
10.00am – 12.00pm
The Village Hub, 67 Devonport Road Stoke Village, PL3 4DL
Free Entry

Pop into The Village Hub to see the community exhibition that’s been locally curated as part of this year’s festival.

Artists in Residence Exhibition
10.30am-3.30pm
Visitor Centre, Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth PL4 6NT
Free. Donations welcome. No need to book

An exhibition celebrating the lives and paintings of some of our local artists including Beryl Cook, William Gibbons and John Oxley Nash.

Walks with History – Beating of the Bounds of Devonport (1)
Starts at 11am
Meet at Keyham Station, Saltash Road, Plymouth PL2 2BB
£5. Pay on the day. Advance booking is essential

Join Walks with History on a historic perambulation of the northern part of the old town boundary. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must. 

Places must be booked via walkswithhistory@gmail.com or 07443 890933 (6-8pm only).

Walks with History – Beating of the Bounds of Devonport (2)
Starts at 3pm
Meet outside the former Pennycomequick pub, Alma Road/Russell Place, Plymouth PL3 4HB
£5. Pay on the day. Advance booking is essential

Join Walks with History on a historic perambulation of the southern part of the old town boundary. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must. 

Places must be booked via walkswithhistory@gmail.com or 07443 890933 (6-8pm only).