Category Archives: Articles

Plymouth and the National Health Service

The Box The Box | Tavistock Place | Plymouth | Devon PL4 8AX 01752 304774 Email Facebook Twitter The archives at The Box contain a range of pictures of figures linked to the UK’s National Health Service. Here, Media Archivist Stacey Anderson guides us through a few significant examples….. On July 5, 1948 the NationalContinue reading “Plymouth and the National Health Service”

My Family History

Devon Family History Society Devon FHS | PO Box 9 | Exeter | Devon EX2 6YP Facebook Messageboard GENUKI-Devon Are you looking for help with your Family History research? Everyone has a history. Your own ancestors were alive when the Mayflower sailed – otherwise you wouldn’t be here. They have experienced wars, epidemics, changes inContinue reading “My Family History”

Darwin in Plymouth

During the evening of Monday 24 October 1831, following “a pleasant drive from London”, Charles Darwin arrived in Devonport, where HMS Beagle was being prepared for a voyage around the world, primarily to survey the coast of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in South America. Captain Robert FitzRoy commanded the Beagle, and Darwin, then justContinue reading “Darwin in Plymouth”

Questions Enough for a Career: Charles Darwin sets out on the Beagle voyage

Emma Darwin Twitter Facebook BlogEmma was due to give a talk on this topic at Plymouth Athenaeum during Plymouth History Festival – find out more about their history on their website As a writer, one of my basic professional skills is to imagine my way into other people’s heads – sometimes real, sometimes imaginary. AndContinue reading “Questions Enough for a Career: Charles Darwin sets out on the Beagle voyage”

The Chase of the Pirate Lugger Will Watch

The Box The Box | Tavistock Place | Plymouth | Devon PL4 8AX 01752 304774 Email Facebook Twitter by Thomas Buttersworth (1768-1830), oil on canvas Though you see me now, the mere ghost of a man,I once had the heart of a lion.Commanding my ship, between many a shore,The ol’ Jolly Roger a-flyin’ This oilContinue reading “The Chase of the Pirate Lugger Will Watch”

Plymouth and Piracy

Dr Elaine Murphy, Associate Professor of Maritime History, University of Plymouth University of Plymouth Drake Circus | Plymouth | Devon | PL4 8AA Facebook Twitter Introduction Plymouth has a long and fascinating maritime history stretching back for many centuries. The city’s maritime history is commemorated in many of the memorials in the Barbican and on theContinue reading “Plymouth and Piracy”

Drake’s Charter

The Box The Box | Tavistock Place | Plymouth | Devon PL4 8AX 01752 304774 Email Facebook Twitter Here’s a fascinating document that relates to Sir Francis Drake’s ‘privateering’… This Elizabethan document from city’s historic collections is dated 1587. It’s a Royal Letters Patent (charter or deed) to Sir Francis Drake committing to him theContinue reading “Drake’s Charter”