History

Talk: Luther and the Invention of the Reformation

Luther’s posting of 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in 1517 is among the most famous events of the Reformation. But did it really happen?

This talk reviews the evidence, and concludes it probably didn’t. So how did a ‘non-event’ end up becoming the defining moment of the Reformation and an iconic episode of the modern historical imagination?

Professor Peter Marshall from the University of Warwick explores what Luther’s theses-hammering has meant in different times and places, and the variety of purposes to which it has been put.

Tickets: £6 (...

Talk: Medieval Manuscripts and the Making (and Remaking) of Knowledge

Around the time of the collapse of the Roman Empire books began to replace scrolls as the primary means of preserving texts. However, for the first 1000 years of books' existence each one was laboriously copied by hand.

The choices made in the design and content had very significant consequences both for the preservation of knowledge and the ways in which readers accessed it.

Dr Cleaver, Ussher Lecturer in Medieval Art at Trinity College, Dublin will explore ways in which medieval manuscripts shape how we think about and access information.

Tickets: £6 (...

Uncover Plymouth launches site to promote city to the world

Growing social brand Uncover Plymouth has just launched its website, aiming to promote all that is great about past and present of the city via original blog-style stories.

The site – www.uncoverplymouth.co.uk – is the latest progression of the brand and aims to help boost Plymouth’s image to a wider – and ultimately global - audience.

Curator of the brand, Jon Bennett who was...

Sixties event to kick start major History Centre community project

Did you once scoot up and down Royal Parade on your Vespa or shimmy on down at The Quay Club? If so, an evening dedicated to the 1960s this May could be just your thing.

‘Sounds of the Sixties’ will officially mark the start of a major Plymouth History Centre community engagement project called ‘Plymouth After Dark’.

This four year outreach project will explore the range of...

Talk: Slander and Insults in Elizabethan Devon - Dr Todd Gray

Dr Todd Gray has taken a leading role in the study of Devon's history, has written widely on Devon's past and lectured to a large number of groups. His recent published work has included Strumpets and Ninnycocks and How to Swear Like an Elizabethan in Devon. His talk sheds light on the nature of society in Devon 500 years ago.

£6/£4.20/Friends free/Devon History Society members free. Discounts available via the Artory App and free to Plymouth University students via SPiA

Ground breaking moment for History Centre project

The Plymouth History Centre team were celebrating on Monday when it broke ground in Tavistock Place - the road behind the current Museum and Central Library buildings, part of which will be turned into a public square as a result of the development.

Councillor Sam Davey, Deputy Lord Mayor for Plymouth put the first spade in the ground as part of the official ceremony (see attached...

Plymouth Museum’s collections go ‘On Tour’

Selected highlights from Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery’s permanent collections are going out ‘On Tour’ to a range of venues while its building is closed for the development of the History Centre.

While the bulk of the collections have been packed and moved to a secure offsite store so building and construction work can begin, some key items have gone out on loan.

Items...

Lunchtime talk, The Voyage of the Mayflower, Myth and Reality

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery's building is currently closed for redevelopment. While this is happening, it is running its popular Lunchtime Talks programme at the Plymouth Athenaeum. Come along and enjoy this talk. We all know a little about the Mayflower and its passengers but what’s the real story and how much is myth? The facts are much more interesting than most people imagine. Why did they sail from Plymouth? Were they the first settlers in North America? Why did they name their settlement Plymouth? They endured huge storms, were almost shipwrecked and even had a birth at...

Paignton Poet journeys through Abbey’s history

A series of poems by The Paignton Poet, more commonly known as Chaz E. Arnold, are on display at Buckland Abbey near Yelverton until 17 July.

Inspired by the unique spirit of Sir Francis Drake’s former home, the poems are being exhibited throughout the house alongside existing treasures, including a verified Rembrandt self-portrait, a painting believed to be the earliest likeness of...

Vikings and Tudors return for History Festival

Plymouth’s annual Local Studies Day will take place on Saturday 7 May with a day of presentations that celebrate the history of Plymouth.

The event, which will kickstart this year’s History Festival, will be held at the Robbins Conference Centre from 9am to 4.30pm. It will also include a series of small displays highlighting current projects and activities from local history societies...

Pages