Building the city

As you walk around Plymouth the past echoes around you in the buildings, the city layout and the man-made features. The images, documents and film clips collected here take us from turn-of-the-century prosperity, through the destruction and turmoil of the war years to the continuous rebuilding of the green and blue city that we recognise now in the 21st Century.

The Blitz air raids of spring 1941 had a devastating effect on the city; changing most of it beyond all recognition. Although views of pre-war Plymouth can still be found in the waterfront and Barbican area and in the city's terraced residential streets, these are now cloaked with the trappings of modern life.

The only way to truly understand the past now is to view it through the eyes of those who were there and prudent enough to capture such images at the time.

Photo gallery

View the gallery - a selection of documents and photographs illustrate the changing Plymouth.

Film

View a selection of film clips - a chance to explore 'Building the city' film from the archives, and a specially-produced film for using in the classroom. Archival film has been made available with thanks to South West Film and Television Archive.