All Events

7 May – Online Content
Welcome to the History Festival
Paul Brookes shares an online welcome to the History Festival

7 May – Zoom Online
Friday Night Pub Quiz
One of the aspects of last year’s festival that enabled everyone to show how much
they knew (or didn’t) about local history was a quiz running through the festival. This year
we are excited to hand this over to an intrepid bunch of students, studying history and
heritage at University of Plymouth, and join them for a Friday night virtual pub quiz.
Come along and join the fun and win prizes from The Box. Please email for the zoom link.

8 May – 10am Local Studies Day Online Zoom Webinar
With Local Studies Day not being able to be held as a physical event this year, this online webinar provides an opportunity for members of the POP Community Heritage Network to come together to celebrate and share the work that has gone on over the last 12 months in a world of lockdown and social distancing while looking ahead to what’s next. To book your place, please send an email here.

8th and 9th May – Virtual Pirates Weekend Listen up m’hearties! Plymouth Waterfront Partnership have an exciting virtual line-up of pirate entertainment for you over the weekend of the 8 & 9 May. There are lots of pirate-themed activities for the whole family to enjoy, including: children’s quizzes, pirate party ideas, cocktail making demos, foodie treats, walking trails to find the diamond treasure! Plus, a pirate craft video by the National Marine Aquarium, and much more. For more information go here and there’s a special talk, recorded by Dr Elaine Murphy, Associate Professor of Maritime History at the University of Plymouth available to listen to here.

11 May 12.30pm
High Street Heritage Action Zone – High Street Sparks Launch
The high street has been the heart of our community for generations, but many high streets aren’t what they once were. That’s why Historic England is helping to revitalise historic high streets across the country.  Working with local partners and communities they are helping transform disused and dilapidated buildings into homes, shops, work settings and community spaces, so they are thriving places for communities, businesses and locals to love.  Together they are helping to breathe life back into the high street.   Making vibrant places for everyone to live, work, invest and visit in the future. Over the next three years Plymouth’s High Street Heritage Action Zone will be funding projects which respond to our city centre and its wonderful heritage and this session will officially launch this scheme.  Small grants of up to £2500 will be allocated to community projects which breathe life back into our city centre.  They are particularly interested in work that focuses on the conservation zone but will also welcome projects that tie in the wider Plan for Plymouth.
Email to book your place.

13 May 2.00pm Environment Plymouth Heritage Conversation. Jackie Young, facilitator of the Environment Plymouth Network, provides a webinar discussing the impact of potential sea level rise and flooding on graveyards and burial sites. The session includes some interesting background on missing cholera pits, the former harbour at DHSB and Victoria Park. Also, the work done to limit damage in the City Centre and the reason why some archaeological digs now require full protective clothing. Email here to book your place and receive the zoom link.

14 May – Zoom Session at 1.30pm with the POP Heritage Network
Come and join the weekly online sessions of the Plymouth Octopus Project Hertitage network. Hear about the work that our members are involved in and join conversations about what’s next for the world of local heritage as we move out of lockdown and consider what next. Come and join the weekly online sessions of the Plymouth Octopus Project Heritage Network sessions. Hear about the work that our members and member groups are involved in and join conversations about what’s next for the world of local heritage as we move out of lockdown and consider what next. To book a place, please email here
and you’ll be sent the zoom link.

15 May 11.00am Tamar Crossings – Guided Talk about the Tamar Bridge. Join a guided talk about the award-winning Tamar Bridge. You will also get a great view of Brunel’s masterpiece in bridge engineering, the Royal Albert Bridge, as well as insight into its construction. The tour is limited to a maximum of 5 people plus the guide, and booking is essential. For more information and to book go here.

17 May – Zoom Online Session
Respect Festival Workshop
This May, Plymouth’s spoken word, arts, and performance platform WonderZoo will be seizing the opportunity to get involved with the History Festival with both hands! This is one of a series of creative workshops for schools and other organisations examining the formation of identity and how to tell your own story, using writing, visual art and dance to explore ten minority figures from Plymouth’s history. Local historian Karen Moore has researched a group of people whose stories need to retold and WonderZoo will be working in conjunction with the Respect Festival, which will take place online on 5th June and feature these remarkable stories.
For more information visit the WonderZoo website .

18 May – 11.00am Tamar Crossings – Guided Talk about the Tamar Bridge. Join a guided talk about the award-winning Tamar Bridge. You will also get a great view of Brunel’s masterpiece in bridge engineering, the Royal Albert Bridge, as well as insight into its construction. The tour is limited to a maximum of 5 people plus the guide, and booking is essential. For more information and to book go here.

19 May to 25 May – The Hub, Stoke Community Exhibition. Stoke and Morice Town have strong links with the past. Many local people have lived here for generations, having had family members in the Navy, Merchant Navy, or working as “Yardies” . Community Benefit Society, The Village Hub, has been getting to know several individuals with their own private collections of social history, and is intending to run an exhibition in its community space on the local high street, 67 Devonport Road, Stoke Village. Having no experience of such a task, volunteers will be working with members of the Plymouth Community Heritage Network and students from University of Plymouyh to learn how to curate such an exhibition. The aim is not only to showcase the remarkable stories of residents, past and present, but also to skill up our community in ways that value and celebrate our shared histories and sense of place. The hub will be accepting items for the exhibition from May 1st and will be opening our doors to the public on May 19th to May 26th as social distancing allows us to bring people inside once more! (Masks and Sanitiser on hand!) 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! Email here, call 07855048428 or visit.

20 May 11.00am Tamar Crossings – Guided Talk about the Tamar Bridge. Join a guided talk about the award-winning Tamar Bridge. You will also get a great view of Brunel’s masterpiece in bridge engineering, the Royal Albert Bridge, as well as insight into its construction. The tour is limited to a maximum of 5 people plus the guide, and booking is essential. For more information and to book go here.

21 May 7.30pm The Devon Family History Society Talk. Formed in 1976, is one of the largest Family History Societies in the UK. The Society’s objectives are to promote the study of genealogy and history, especially of Devon families and places, to educate the public therein through advice and instruction, and, for the public benefit, to encourage the preservation and transcription of relevant documents and records, especially for the county of Devon. They are hosting four free talks via a zoom platform which are free and open for anyone to attend.  Today’s talk is entitled ‘British and Irish Newspapers by Chris Paton. To receive the link for the talk email putting Plymouth History Festival in the Subject Box, and add details of the talk(s) you wish to attend in your message.

21 May 10.00am – Stoke Heritage Walk The Village Hub, in conjunction with Fisher’s Footprints of Plymouth, present a heritage trail Tour where you ‘Loop the Loop’ around Stoke Village and learn about its historical background by walking through times gone … assisted with pictures from the past. Starting outside at the ‘Hub’ at 11.00am for an up to a 2hr meander.Booking – There is a 25-person limit on this walk so booking is essential.  Please email to register your place.

24 May 11.00am
Walking Trails in the City – Beating the Bounds of East Stonehouse (1)
Join Walks with History, on a walk along the old town boundary of East Stonehouse to Victoria Park. Walk time 90 minutes. Start point. Front of Quadrant Wharf Building (by the Red School), Millbay Road, PL1 3NJ. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must.
£5.00 ticket price and must have an advance place booked via email or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only)

24 May 3.00pm Park Pharmacy Trust – Mr Park’s chemist shop keeps on healing In 1875, Charles James Park, a Victorian pharmacist, purchased a chemist shop, established in 1865 on Mutley Plain. The business was a family run pharmacy with two of his children, C Armstrong Park and Muriel Park (one of the first women to qualify as a pharmacist) both qualified while apprentices to their father. In 1983, C Armstrong Park decided to retire and auction the entire contents of this last remaining Plymouth family pharmacy. That was when the Mannamead Conservation Society, in 1984, stepped in to stop the auction, establish Park Pharmacy Trust and save for the people of Plymouth, the last remaining family chemist shop. This interactive Zoom session will explore some of the various ways the trust uses its collections of artefacts and its medicinal community garden at Thorn Park Lodge to bring joy and fun into the lives of people who love history as well as those with dementia and other debilitating conditions. Activities and equipment borrowed from its awarding winning Children’s Industry Workshops are often used in some of these sessions. Park Pharmacy Trust recently delivered a series of interactive Zoom sessions as part of a National Lottery Covid project: A novel approach to tackling Covid-19 Loneliness. Email here for the zoom link.

27 May – 11.00am Tamar Crossings – Guided Talk about the Tamar Bridge. Join a guided talk about the award-winning Tamar Bridge. You will also get a great view of Brunel’s masterpiece in bridge engineering, the Royal Albert Bridge, as well as insight into its construction. The tour is limited to a maximum of 5 people plus the guide, and booking is essential. For more information and to book go here.

27 May 7.30pm WonderZoo – Spoken Word Event
WonderZoo is a Plymouth-based arts collective specialising in spoken word and performance events, workshops and activities.  They will be linking their event in May into the History Festival with performers Ellen A.R. Sims, Edith Blackbird, Dean Hutchinson, Jonathan Spurling and Sarah Adams, Franklin Street and Laura Horton, Plymouth City Laureate of Words. The headline act for the night will be the WonderZoo Crew themselves in a collaborative piece which features a plotted history of the Stonehouse area performed through music and spoken word.
For more information visit the WonderZoo website.

28 May – Zoom Session at 1.30pm with the POP Heritage Network
Come and join the weekly online sessions of the Plymouth Octopus Project Hertitage network. Hear about the work that our members are involved in and join conversations about what’s next for the world of local heritage as we move out of lockdown and consider what next. Come and join the weekly online sessions of the Plymouth Octopus Project Heritage Network sessions. Hear about the work that our members and member groups are involved in and join conversations about what’s next for the world of local heritage as we move out of lockdown and consider what next. To book a place, please email here
and you’ll be sent the zoom link

29 May 2.30pm Walking Trails in the City – The City Centre Trails
Join Walks with History, for a walk through the City Centre looking at areas redeveloped as part of Abercrombie’s Plan for Plymouth. Walk time 90 minutes. Start point. Outside the St Lukes Church, The Box, Tavistock Place, PL4 8AX. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must.
£5.00 ticket price and must have an advance place booked here or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only)

30 May 2.00pm Walking Trails in the City – The Defences of Devonport
Join Walks with History, for a walk along the old defensive lines of Devonport and following parts of the Devonport Heritage Trail. Walk time 90 minutes. Start point. Outside the Brewery Tap Public House, 99 Edgecombe Street, PL1 3SZ. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must.
£5.00 ticket price and must have an advance place booked here or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only)

7 May – Zoom Session at 1.30pm with the POP Heritage Network
Come and join the weekly online sessions of the Plymouth Octopus Project Hertitage network. Hear about the work that our members are involved in and join conversations about what’s next for the world of local heritage as we move out of lockdown and consider what next. Come and join the weekly online sessions of the Plymouth Octopus Project Heritage Network sessions. Hear about the work that our members and member groups are involved in and join conversations about what’s next for the world of local heritage as we move out of lockdown and consider what next. To book a place, please email here
and you’ll be sent the zoom link.

7 May – Zoom Online Session
Respect Festival Workshop
This May, Plymouth’s spoken word, arts, and performance platform WonderZoo will be seizing the opportunity to get involved with the History Festival with both hands! This is one of a series of creative workshops for schools and other organisations examining the formation of identity and how to tell your own story, using writing, visual art and dance to explore ten minority figures from Plymouth’s history. Local historian Karen Moore has researched a group of people whose stories need to retold and WonderZoo will be working in conjunction with the Respect Festival, which will take place online on 5th June and feature these remarkable stories.
For more information visit the WonderZoo website .

11 May 11.00am Tamar Crossings – Guided Talk about the Tamar Bridge. Join a guided talk about the award-winning Tamar Bridge. You will also get a great view of Brunel’s masterpiece in bridge engineering, the Royal Albert Bridge, as well as insight into its construction. The tour is limited to a maximum of 5 people plus the guide, and booking is essential. For more information and to book go here.

11 May 6.00pm Renaissance Historical Dance Company Online Dance Premiere. The society was established in 1994 and are a Devon based historical dance group specialising in the performance of 15th, 16th, 17th and 19th century court and country dances from England and the Continent, together with crafts and social activities. Their members come from a variety of backgrounds, but all share a desire to bring history alive. Their repertoire of dance and display is carefully researched and people in the group have skills ranging from historical dress making to storytelling. The group are very happy to hear from people with an interest in history, dance or performance so we can bring the past to life for more people.This event will provide more information about the history of the company and their work, including interviews with long term members. For more information visit their facebook page

12 May 2.00pm –
Unheard Voices Online Talk
Recent times have made many of us acutely aware how some voices fail to be heard in history.  For some communities, it is a struggle for our stories to be heard, captured and archived and so conversations around history can fail to consider whole groups of people whose stories tell us so much about who we all are. 
For this year’s history festival, we are offering a series of talks addressing issues of gender, sexuality and race and today features Alan Butler talking about the handing down on LGBTQ+ heritage and “The Rainbow Connection”.
Please email to receive the relevant zoom link for the session.

14 May – 11.00am Tamar Crossings – Guided Talk about the Tamar Bridge. Join a guided talk about the award-winning Tamar Bridge. You will also get a great view of Brunel’s masterpiece in bridge engineering, the Royal Albert Bridge, as well as insight into its construction. The tour is limited to a maximum of 5 people plus the guide, and booking is essential. For more information and to book go here.

15 May 2.00pm Community Archives and Heritage Group South West – Online Launch.The Community Archives and Heritage Group (CAHG) is a national group which aims to support and promote community archives in the UK & Ireland. They bring together bodies and organisations concerned with community archives and provide a forum for the regular exchange of views and information. Over the years, the organisation has tended to be quite London or centrally focussed and, as a result, are currently running two pilots in the South West and Scotland to form regional community archive networks.  This webinar will discuss the aims and objectives of the South West Network and provide practical support on running and developing a community network. This session will be run on zoom and please email to register your place and for joining instructions.

17 May 2.00pm
Walking Trails in the City – Waterfront (2)
Join Walks with History for a walk along the Plymouth Hoe Boundary Stones Trail. Walk time 90 minutes. Start point. Mayflower Steps, Barbican, PL1 2LR. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must. £5.00 ticket price and must have an advance place booked via email or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only)

18 May 7.30pm
Creme de la Creme Spoken Word Event
Leadworks CIC is an innovative social enterprise, offering grassroots community
organisations and artists a space to work, create, connect and be. They provide regular
events, some of which have moved to online during the recent lockdowns. One of these is the Crème del la Crème spoken word event which has taken place on a monthly basis. As part of the History Festival the theme for this month’s event is heritage and who we are.
Come along and hear some reflections from some outstanding local writers.
This event is open to all and the zoom link is here.

18 May 7pm
The Archaeological Complex at Calstock
In this talk Dr Chris Smart, University of Exeter, will uncover the findings of The Bere Ferrers archaeological project, which investigates the deveAopment of the royal silver mines on the Devon bank of the Tamar between 1292 and the mid 16th century. To book your place for this talk and receive the zoom link for the session, please
visit here.

19 May 2.00pm –
Unheard Voices Online Talk
Recent times have made many of us acutely aware how some voices fail to be heard in history.  For some communities, it is a struggle for our stories to be heard, captured and archived and so conversations around history can fail to consider whole groups of people whose stories tell us so much about who we all are. 
For this year’s history festival, we are offering a series of talks addressing issues of gender, sexuality and race and today features Hayley Kemp encouraging us, with her “Rebel Footprints talk” , to hear the stories of women such as courtesan, Pearl of Plymouth from Stonehouse, with a suite now named after her at the famous Grosvenor Hotel. ‘Mother Weston, friend and ‘mother’ of the Royal Navy sailors.  The Ju-jutsuffragettes, ‘A New Terror, a 20 strong force trained in jujitsu led by ‘General’ Flora Drummond, patrolling Plymouth, ready to fight with the police.  Oh and in case that’s all a bit tame for you, we’ll also be looking at the attempt by the women who tried to blow up Smeaton’s Tower!
Please email to receive the relevant zoom link for the session.

19 May 11.45am Tamar Crossings – The Royal Albert Bridge – Design and Construction. Join us for a 15-minute talk on a range of subjects connected with the river and the two bridges. Each half-hour talk is delivered online by a different volunteer guest speaker in partnership with the WEA. For more information and to book go to here.

22 May – 11.00am Tamar Crossings – Guided Talk about the Tamar Bridge. Join a guided talk about the award-winning Tamar Bridge. You will also get a great view of Brunel’s masterpiece in bridge engineering, the Royal Albert Bridge, as well as insight into its construction. The tour is limited to a maximum of 5 people plus the guide, and booking is essential. For more information and to book go here.

22 May 2.00pm
Walking Trails in the City – Five Fields Lane
Join Walks with History for a walk along the former Five Fields Lane including parts of Plymouth’s newest walking trail. Walk time 90 minutes. Start point. Front of Plymouth Railway Station, PL4 6AB. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must. £5.00 ticket price and must have an advance place booked via email or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only)

24 May 1.00pm
Walking Trails in the City – Beating the Bounds of East Stonehouse (2)
Join Walks with History, for a walk along the old town boundary of East Stonehouse to Stonehouse Bridge. Walk time 90 minutes. Start point. Front of The Park Pavilion Café, Victoria Park, PL1 5NQ. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must.
£5.00 ticket price and must have an advance place booked via email or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only)

25 May 10.30 Tamar Crossings in conjunction with WEA: Tamar Bridge Live. Relax by doing a live yoga session with a spectacular backdrop from the comfort of your own home. Mindful Yoga – Body, Mind & Breath – Course ref: C3532022 For more information go to here.

25 May 11.00am High Street Heritage Action Zone Selfie Walk. The high street has been the heart of our community for generations, but many high streets aren’t what they once were. That’s why Historic England is helping to revitalise historic high streets across the country.  Working with local partners and communities they are helping transform disused and dilapidated buildings into homes, shops, work settings and community spaces, so they are thriving places for communities, businesses and locals to love.  Together they are helping to breathe life back into the high street.   Making vibrant places for everyone to live, work, invest and visit in the future. Over the next three years Plymouth’s High Street Heritage Action Zone will be funding projects which respond to our city centre and its wonderful heritage. For this trail, join local photographer, Nigel Barret, as he takes you on a tour through the city centre, ending in High Street Heritage Action Zone and shares some advice on how to take the best selfies. To book for this event, please email to register your interest.

26 May 2.00pm –
Unheard Voices Online Talk
Recent times have made many of us acutely aware how some voices fail to be heard in history.  For some communities, it is a struggle for our stories to be heard, captured and archived and so conversations around history can fail to consider whole groups of people whose stories tell us so much about who we all are. 
For this year’s history festival, we are offering a series of talks addressing issues of gender, sexuality and race and today features members of The Jack Leslie Campaign discussing their work in the city.
Please email to receive the relevant zoom link for the session.

27 May 12.00pm High Street Heritage Action Zone – Lunchtime Conversation with Urban Splash. The high street has been the heart of our community for generations, but many high streets aren’t what they once were. That’s why Historic England is helping to revitalise historic high streets across the country.  Working with local partners and communities they are helping transform disused and dilapidated buildings into homes, shops, work settings and community spaces, so they are thriving places for communities, businesses and locals to love.  Together they are helping to breathe life back into the high street.   Making vibrant places for everyone to live, work, invest and visit in the future.   Booking: To register for this event and to receive the zoom link, please email here.

28 May 6.00, 6.15 and 6.30– The Box History Festival Late Event. Join The Box for a special late as part of this year’s Plymouth History Festival and discover some of the secrets behind The Box. Explore their galleries and chat to some of the curators who created these amazing spaces. The Kitchen & Bar, led by award winning executive chef Nat Tallents, will also be open with some vintage recipes from our recent ‘Your Recipes, Your Heritage’ project. Come and try a selection of sweet treats and savoury delights from days gone by to a soundtrack of traditional folk music. To book, please visit here.

29 May – Walking Trails in the City; Central Park– 11.00am
Join Walks with History, for a walk through Central Park, visiting the site of Plymouth Zoo, Pounds House and following the Co-op Way trail. Walk time 90 minutes. Start point. Outside the Life Centre, 40 Mayflower Drive, PL2 3DG. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must.
£5.00 ticket price and must have an advance place booked here or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only).

7 May – Zoom Talk at 10.30am
“The enigmatic John Marshall: Founder of Plymouth emigration depot, Baltic Wharf” brought to you by the Plymouth Historical Association
A talk by Dr Liz Rushen of Monash University. Please note, a recorded version of this talk will be available from Tuesday May 11 (7 p.m.). To book your place for these talks and receive the zoom link for the session, please vist here

8 May – Zoom Talk at 2.30pm
Devon Family History Society present an online talk “Parish Rates for Family Historians 1500-1650” by Dr Todd Gray
Email here and put put Plymouth History Festival in the Subject Box, then add details of the talk(s) you wish to attend in your message.

8 May – 11.00am Tamar Crossings – Guided Talk about the Tamar Bridge. Join a guided talk about the award-winning Tamar Bridge. You will also get a great view of Brunel’s masterpiece in bridge engineering, the Royal Albert Bridge, as well as insight into its construction. The tour is limited to a maximum of 5 people plus the guide, and booking is essential. For more information and to book go here.

12 May 4.00pm University of Plymouth History Department Online Research Webinar. The University of Plymouth History department meets monthly to share papers and research. As part of this year’s History Festival, they have agreed to open the May 2021 event up to all interested parties. This session is an exploration of Irish Identity with two papers: (1) ‘Modern Ireland: Politics, Memory and Identity’ from Dr Ciaran Wallace of Trinity College Dublin and Deputy Director of the Beyond 2022, ‘Beyond 2022: the creation and destruction (and re-creation) of Ireland’s Archives’ and Dr Claire Fitzpatrick of University of Plymouth talking about ‘Posting an Ideal? Identity, Culture and the Post Office in Ireland’.This event will take place via Zoom so to register and be sent the link, please email.

14 May 2.00pm Online
Cosmic Storytelling Group
WonderZoo is a Plymouth-based arts collective specialising in spoken word and performance events, workshops and activities. For the month of May, their regular Cosmic Storytelling Workshop with writers Slain McGough Davey and Gabi Marcellus-Temple is on Zoom. This session will focus on historical fiction and writing techniques.
For more information visit the WonderZoo website.

14 May 6.00pm – Zoom Online
Friday Night Pub Quiz
One of the aspects of last year’s festival that enabled everyone to show how much
they knew (or didn’t) about local history was a quiz running through the festival. This year
we are excited to hand this over to an intrepid bunch of students, studying history and
heritage at University of Plymouth, and join them for a Friday night virtual pub quiz.
Come along and join the fun and win prizes from The Box. Please email for the zoom link.

17 May 11.00am
Walking Trails in the City – Waterfront (1)
Join Walks with History for a walk along the Waterfront Trail to Plymouth Barbican. Walk time 90 minutes. Starting point . Laira Bridge by the Morley Arms, Billacombe Road, PL9 7HP. Please come prepared for the weather and wear sensible shoes are a must. £5.00 ticket price and must have an advance place booked via email or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only)

19 May 7.30pm The Devon Family History Society Talk. Formed in 1976, is one of the largest Family History Societies in the UK. The Society’s objectives are to promote the study of genealogy and history, especially of Devon families and places, to educate the public therein through advice and instruction, and, for the public benefit, to encourage the preservation and transcription of relevant documents and records, especially for the county of Devon. They are hosting four free talks via a zoom platform which are free and open for anyone to attend.  Today’s talk is entitled ‘Manorial Records’ by Caroline Gurney.  To receive the link for the talk email putting Plymouth History Festival in the Subject Box, and add details of the talk(s) you wish to attend in your message.

20 May 10.00am
High Street Heritage Action Zone Heritage Walk 1
‘Door to Door with Trade‘ provides with the opportunity to walk the trade route between Stonehouse Town Gate to the Frankfort Gate of Plymouth. A route that was in use for hundreds of years by market traders’ official ones and others! While on route we’ll be talking about the changing landscapes and disappearing and appearing features along the way.
To book a place please email here.

20th May 7.00 WonderZoo Radical Reading Group. Join the WonderZoo radical reading group as they look at David Lloyd and Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel ‘V for Vendetta’!
To join the group and get a free copy of the book, send an email and a Zoom link will be sent out one hour prior to the event.

21 May 7.30 Old Plymouth Society presents “Not Just Chocolate” a talk by Patricia Hodge)
As part of the history festival, the society are hosting a light-heart talk called “Not Just
Chocolate” featuring an eclectic mix of stories and ideas. It contains information about
chocolate manufacture, type setting and the development of early photography. The story
follows the lives of five children born in Plymouth who are descendants of Joseph Fry – the founder of the Fry’s chocolate company. To receive the zoom link for this event please email to register.

21 May 6.00pm – Zoom Online
Friday Night Pub Quiz
One of the aspects of last year’s festival that enabled everyone to show how much
they knew (or didn’t) about local history was a quiz running through the festival. This year
we are excited to hand this over to an intrepid bunch of students, studying history and
heritage at University of Plymouth, and join them for a Friday night virtual pub quiz.
Come along and join the fun and win prizes from The Box. Please email for the zoom link.

21 May – Zoom Session at 1.30pm with the POP Heritage Network
Come and join the weekly online sessions of the Plymouth Octopus Project Hertitage network. Hear about the work that our members are involved in and join conversations about what’s next for the world of local heritage as we move out of lockdown and consider what next. Come and join the weekly online sessions of the Plymouth Octopus Project Heritage Network sessions. Hear about the work that our members and member groups are involved in and join conversations about what’s next for the world of local heritage as we move out of lockdown and consider what next. To book a place, please email here
and you’ll be sent the zoom link.

23 May 11.00am
Walking Trails in the City – Efford Cemetery
Join Walks with History, on a walk through the Cemetery remembering the lives of the people buried there. Walk time 90 minutes. Start point. Outside the Cemetery Gates, Efford Road, PL3 6NG. Please come prepared for the weather and sensible shoes are a must.
£5.00 ticket price and must have an advance place booked via email or 07443 890933 (6pm-8pm only)

24 May 10.00am Tamar Crossings – Anchorage Tour Join us behind the scenes to see the Tamar Bridge in a brand new way- from inside the anchorage. Join our volunteer tour guide to learn 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. Tour lasts approx 1.5 hours. Booking essential via this link

25 May 7.30pm The Devon Family History Society Talk. Formed in 1976, is one of the largest Family History Societies in the UK. The Society’s objectives are to promote the study of genealogy and history, especially of Devon families and places, to educate the public therein through advice and instruction, and, for the public benefit, to encourage the preservation and transcription of relevant documents and records, especially for the county of Devon. They are hosting four free talks via a zoom platform which are free and open for anyone to attend. Today’s talk is entitled ‘General Joseph Palmer: Devonian & American by Graham Naylor. To receive the link for the talk email putting Plymouth History Festival in the Subject Box, and add details of the talk(s) you wish to attend in your message.

26 May 11.45am Tamar Crossings – The Tamar Bridge: what it means to the people of Saltash Join us for a 15-minute talk on a range of subjects connected with the river and the two bridges. Each half-hour talk is delivered online by a different volunteer guest speaker in partnership with the WEA. For more information and to book go to here.

27 May 10.00am
High Street Heritage Action Zone Heritage Walk 2
‘Plymouth the Shopping Centre of the Westcountry’ provides a tour in and amongst the vast area of the shopping complex of Plymouth, a conceptual idea that started during WWII. Learn about its futuristic aims of remodelling the way people should live and work that gave inspiration to the rest of the country. Focusing on architecture and stories of the people that worked in the area. Meet at Frankfort Gate Plaza outside the Market at 11.00am for another meander that could take 2hrs.  There is a strict limit of 25 people for this event so advance booking via the email address below is essential.
To book a place please email here.

27 May 10.00am
Timebank Heritage Session in Ernesettle
Timebanking is a reciprocal exchange of time and skills so, whenever you give your time to help others you get time back to ask for something you need from any Timebank member. Timebanking is all about sharing your skills, interests and hobbies with others. Contact here to receive more details about their History Festival session.

29 May – 11.00am Tamar Crossings – Guided Talk about the Tamar Bridge. Join a guided talk about the award-winning Tamar Bridge. You will also get a great view of Brunel’s masterpiece in bridge engineering, the Royal Albert Bridge, as well as insight into its construction. The tour is limited to a maximum of 5 people plus the guide, and booking is essential. For more information and to book go here.

30 May
Pubs of Greenbank
Pubs of Greenbank is running a virtual (Zoom) pub crawl of Greenbank. We will explore the history of the hill’s pubs, hear stories and memories from Greenbank regulars, and share some drinks and snacks. Sign up to the event to receive a list of suggested drinks and food for the event, and join the Greenbank community for an afternoon!
For the last year, Pubs of Greenbank has been collecting memories and stories about the Hill Park Inn, Clifton Inn, Providence Inn, Friendship Inn, Wellington Hotel, Fawn Social Club, Sir Francis Drake, Radnor Inn, Seymour Arms, Grand Duchess, Nowhere Inn, Clarence Arms and Plymouth Social Club from the community. The aim of the project is to preserve the oral history of the area and encourage the community to look after its pubs. This has become ever more important since the pubs have been hit by lockdowns. Sign up here

Online Wellbeing Conversations around exhibits and spaces in The Box
As The Box reopens, during the festival, we focus on there special places. Each one provides some additional perspective, from people directly involved in the exhibits, with a view to providing visitors with some additional background to their design but also with an invitation to consider their own identities and wellbeing in terms of their own heritage.

Lesbian Voices of Plymouth Trail. Lesbian Voices of Plymouth is a National Lottery Heritage Fund and Vital Sparks funded project to capture and archive the lesbian voices of Plymouth both past and present.  As part of the History Festival, why not undertake the virtual walk that was created as part of this project? You can have a wander around the wonder of Plymouth’s historic waterfront whilst listening to excerpts from the LVoP interviews … and you don’t even need to leave your seat if you don’t want to! Visit the Lesbian Voices website to access the virtual walk.

Finding Yourself in the Archive – An Online Exhibition by University of St Mark and St John. The University was originally two separate Colleges which were situated in London – St. John’s College in Battersea and St. Mark’s College in Chelsea. The present University Archives document and reflect Marjon’s history. The collection includes student registers, committee minutes, textbooks and exam papers, plans and photographs, student reminiscences and memorabilia, as well as newer forms of media. This exhibition will share images and experiences of the archive volunteers who took part in a social-prescribing archive-based project called the “Connected Catalogue”. Weblink to follow.

Family History Helpdesk Online. As part of this year’s History Festival, the Devon Family History Society are offering one to one Tree House Help Desk sessions throughout the duration of the festival. The Tree House research centre has a wealth of information and resources along with experienced, friendly volunteers on hand to help and guide you. Whether you’re just starting out in family history or you’ve hit a brick wall and don’t know how to break it, the Tree House could open new pathways to the past. Your reward could be a realistic and meaningful discovery of your ancestors. To arrange a one-to-one Treehouse session, email and put Plymouth History Festival in the Subject Box, with brief details of your query in your message. A volunteer will email you with a suggested date and time.

A History of sport and leisure in Central Park Virtual Walk. An opportunity to explore the history of Central Park through the sports and recreational activities that have taken place there through the years. The walk can be accessed here.

Plymouth Synagogue and Ripple Theatre (1) Plymouth Cemetery Audio Trail and (2) Gifford Place Audio Trail Trail 1 – The Old Jewish Cemetery Audio Trail. Located on Plymouth’s historic Hoe, in the shadow of The Citadel, lies a hidden secret: The Old Jewish Cemetery. Contained within high stone walls it has always remained hidden from public view. The only clue to its existence…an insignificant door. In 2016 that door was opened and for the first time in its history the general public were given the opportunity to take a look inside. With the aid of funding from Vital Sparks and the Drake Foundation an audio trail was created in the garden cemetery, bringing to life the lives of those buried within this hidden gem. In 1740 this plot was a family garden; today it is a calm oasis that hides a wealth of history and culture. In light of the current pandemic and knowing that the old Jewish cemetery on Plymouth Hoe will not be open for some time the audio trail has been re-edited and can be accessed from the Ripple Theatre website. Trail 2 – A new audio from the people who created the popular Jewish Cemetery audio trail. Talking to families with ancestors buried in the Gifford Place Cemetery we are using these oral histories to create a new cemetery trail. Told by the families themselves, creating a sharing from one culture to another. Further information about these trails can be found here and the audios accessed here and the audios accessed here.

The Devonport Heritage Trail is going live on the Plymouth Trails app on Friday 7th May to mark the start of Plymouth History Festival 2021.The 4.5 mile route is an updated version of the hugely popular trail that has guided people around Devonport since 2011. Now, thanks to Real Ideas Organisation, the walking trail has been digitised and users will be guided along the route in the easy-to-use app.The Devonport Heritage Trail links historic and cultural points of interest in Devonport. It is a great way to explore the local area, once an important town in its own right. The trail will take you through Mount Wise, to the Guildhall and soon-to-open Devonport Market Hall (both run by Real Ideas). The Market Hall was formerly the market for the whole of Devonport, but has now been renovated to create a space that combines traditional elements with state-of-the-art technology including a 15m diameter dome which will allow you to explore immersive realities, without the need for a VR headset. From here, the trail also takes in North Corner and Devonport Park. The original trail was created by Plymouth City Council, Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership, local artist and historians, and the City Museum (now The Box). The trail has been updated by Visit Plymouth and contains more fantastic archival images from The Box collections. The Devonport Heritage Trail is the 9th trail to be added to the app, alongside the Mayflower Trail, Waterfront Walkway and Rainbow Connections Trail.You can download the Plymouth Trails app for free from the AppStore or PlayStore. For more information, including accessibility, head here.