Plymouth History Festival 2013 - Exhibitions and Displays

The Making of a Modern City
Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Drake Circus, Plymouth
Celebrate the 70th anniversary of Abercrombie and Watson’s ‘Plan for Plymouth’ and get a unique insight into the reconstruction of the City following heavy bombing during World War II. We will be delving into the archive collections for this exhibition to reveal previously unseen documents, plans and images that record the people, politics and places that shaped the City we know today. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Throughout May (until 29 June) 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday).

An Introduction to ‘Stories from the Stores’
Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Drake Circus, Plymouth
Get a taster of our forthcoming summer exhibition, ‘Stories from the Stores’ with some themed display cases in the Museum Foyer. See and comment on a selection of mystery objects and intriguing artefacts from the social history collection. Share your knowledge about what you see and your opinions on what we should collect. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Throughout May, 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday).

Historic Maps
Central Library, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AL
See a display of historic maps of Plymouth from the library’s collections. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Throughout May, 9am to 7pm Monday and Friday, 9am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm Saturday (closed Sunday).

On the Way to Widecombe Fair
Central Library, Drake Circus, Plymouth
Everyone knows the song ‘Widecombe Fair’, but few people know the story behind the man who wrote it down and made it famous. Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould collected hundreds of folk songs from across Devon and published them in the 1890s. He gave Plymouth Libraries his original manuscripts and these will be on display for the first time in many years. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Throughout May, 9am to 7pm Monday and Friday, 9am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm Saturday (closed Sunday).

On Plymouth Hoe
Merchant’s House, 33 St. Andrew Street, Plymouth
See a display of black and white images of Plymouth Hoe from the City’s photographic collections. The images date mainly from the late Victorian and Edwardian times. A small number of them also show the Hoe in the 1950s – a period when Plymouth rebuilt itself after the devastation of the Blitz. Standard admission applies but there is no need to book. Throughout May, 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday).

Life in Elizabethan Times
Elizabethan House, 32 New Street, The Barbican, Plymouth
See how a merchant or sea captain might have lived in the 1600s in one of Plymouth’s most historic properties. New interpretation for 2013 will also provide more of an insight into life in Elizabethan Times. Standard admission applies but there is no need to book. Throughout May, 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday).

Plymouth Mayflower Exhibition
Barbican Tourist Information Centre, Southside Street, The Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2LR
Take a journey through Plymouth’s famous harbour and historic Barbican, exploring tales of merchant families, the fishing industry, the military harbour and emigration to the New World. Standard admission applies but there is no need to book. Throughout May, 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30am to 4pm Sunday.

1851: Life in Early Victorian Plymouth Continued
Ford Park Cemetery, Ford Park Road, Plymouth
Take a look at life in the Three Towns (Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse) and its people during this crucial stage in the City’s history. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Thursday 2 May, 10.30am to 3.30pm; Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May, 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

Torpoint All At Sea
Torpoint Library, Fore Street, Torpoint
Come along and see a display depicting Torpoint’s Naval connections. The images on display will include HMS Raleigh, HMS Fisgard and MTB48. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Tuesday 7 May, 9.30am to 6.30pm, Wednesday 8 May, 9.30am to 5pm, Friday 10 May, 9.30am to 5.00pm, Saturday 11 May, 10am to 1.00pm, (closed Thursday).

Torpoint All At Sea
Torpoint Archives, Buller Road, Torpoint
Come along and see a display depicting Torpoint’s Naval connections. The images on display will include HMS Raleigh, HMS Fisgard and MTB48. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Tuesdays 14 and 28 May, 2-4pm; Fridays 17, 24 and 31 May, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm.

Historical Plympton
See a special display of items documenting Plympton’s rich history. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Please note that there will not be any disabled access to the Plympton St. Maurice Guildhall exhibition on the first floor. Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 May, 10am to 4pm at Plympton St Maurice Guildhall, Fore Street, Plympton St Maurice; Thursday 23 May, 4pm to 7pm and Friday 24 May and Saturday 25 May, 10am to 4pm at Plympton Library, Harewood, Plympton, Plymouth.

Humanities and Performing Arts Showcase
Roland Levinsky Building, Plymouth University, Drake Circus
See an exhibition of work and a showcase of the research produced by History students from the School of Humanities and Performing Arts at Plymouth University. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 May, from 6pm each day.

North Prospect History Project
Halcyon Centre, Dingle Road, North Prospect, Plymouth
See a showcase and mini exhibition documenting the ‘North Prospect History Project: The Story So Far’. See a showcase and mini exhibition documenting the ‘North Prospect History Project: The Story So Far’. North Prospect History Project is a Heritage Lottery Funded community-led archive. The project is engaging residents of the area to record their history and the impact of the current regeneration programme. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Drop in for as little or as long as you like. Wednesday 22 May, 11am to 4pm.

Sea Like a Mirror
Smeaton’s Tower, The Hoe, Plymouth
See an interactive, site-specific installation at Smeaton’s Tower by a final year, fine art student from Plymouth University. Juliet Middleton-Batts has been inspired by a family connection to John Smeaton and created a temporary installation to reflect the ever-changing surroundings of land and sea around the lighthouse. Standard admission charges to the lighthouse apply throughout the day, but access to the installation is free and there is no need to book. Juliet will also be on-site to chat to members of the public and answer questions. For more information email egm4graphics@btconnect.com or visit www.julietmiddletonbatts.com Saturday 25 May, 10am to 4.30pm.

Celebrating 125 years at the Laboratory on the Hoe
Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Drake Circus, Plymouth
If you love science, have a passion for Plymouth’s past, or simply enjoy learning something new, then please visit the Museum this summer where you can find out about the Laboratory on the Hoe. The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (MBA) is currently working on a project, financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to celebrate 125 years at the Laboratory on the Hoe. The project is in partnership with the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS), the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office, and the South West Image Bank. A selection of interesting documents and artifacts relating to the establishment of the MBA in 1884, the opening of the Laboratory in 1888, the MBA Aquarium, the Plymouth Blitz, and the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey, will be exhibited in the Mseum Foyer. Admission is free and there is no need to book. 28 May 2013 to 3 August 2013, 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday).

The History of Plymouth Schools
Ford Park Cemetery Visitor Centre, Ford Park Road, Plymouth
Come along to see an exhibition relating to Plymouth’s schools, from the 16th Century up to the present. You will be able to see a pupil’s homework book from 1910,an early 20th century school atlas, a school bell, and a number of school photographs. Admission is free and there is no need to book. Food and drink will be also be available at the cafe and parking is free. This exhibition will continue until 28 July and will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am to 3.30pm and Saturdays and Sundays 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Thursday 30 May 10.30am to 3.30pm.

 Click here for more information about the festival.