Get ready for the 2019 Plymouth History Festival

The seventh Plymouth History Festival begins this Saturday, opening up the city’s buildings, parks and streets with talks, workshops, exhibitions and special events. It runs until 31 May.

Throughout the month theatrical productions and re-enactors will bring the spirit of the past to life, while expertly guided tours and walks will take visitors down routes once populated by Plymouth’s most famous and infamous figures.

This year the Festival explores a range of topics, some of which are based on the themes of ‘Empowerment’, ‘Journeys’ and ‘The Great Outdoors’.

Talks and panel discussions will highlight stories as diverse as Quaker pacifism, the voyage of the Mayflower and the legacy of figures such as Nancy Astor and William Snow Harris.

As well as looking into other peoples’ lives, there are opportunities for those who want to discover more about their own place in Plymouth’s past, with a number of workshops based on family history at libraries around the city. Like many other activities, from eating medieval food to writing poems inspired by the city’s heritage, these can be enjoyed by adults and children alike.

As well as familiar locations like the Athenaeum, Synagogue, Smeaton’s Tower and Devonport Guildhall, there’s a host of buildings, parks, cemeteries and landmarks to explore. Mount Batten Tower will be open for self-guided tours on 6 and 29 May while Plympton will be running a whole week of activities dedicated to its history from 13 to 19 May.

Head over to the Festival website at historyfestival2019.wordpress.com<https://historyfestival2019.wordpress.com/> to plan your schedule and find out more about booking and admission for each of the events. You can also follow the Festival on Facebook and Twitter using @plymhistoryfest.