PLYMOUTH, UNITED KINGDOM
BOOKS ON PLYMOUTH HISTORY
There are actually hundreds of books on Plymouth's history. You can see most of them in the Local Studies Library of the Central Library - top of the stairs and take the second left. Joyce Brown and her fellow librarians in there will point you in the right direction if you've got a query about your neighbourhood or topic. Or you can just browse through the books for hours! Take a dip! It's free - courtesy of Plymouth's Council Tax!
My favourite books are:
"Plymouth and Devonport in Times of War and Peace" by Henry Whitfeld 1900.
It's a great book full of "normal" history - but
embellished with anecdotes, stories, poems and songs.
It's a giant book, and impossible (for me anyway) to
read from cover to cover. I just dip into it from time
to time. I like the story of how Napoleon's undies were
sent to a local laundry - and it was said that they had
the French Royal cypher embroidered on them. Where did
he get them? The book's been long out of print, but you
can usually find it at AbeBooks.
"History of Plymouth from the Earliest Period to the Present Time" by R.N.Worth 1890
This was the classic history for many years, even when Bracken and Walling had published their books on the history of Plymouth. For his time, he brought a great academic rigour to the subject, based on his researches into the municipal records. Now out of print but sometimes available at AbeBooks.
"Plymouth: A New History" by Crispin Gill
This is the most up-to-date account. Unfortunately
Crispin doesn't reveal his sources so well - he was more
of a journalist than a formally trained historian. But
his wide-ranging knowledge was superb, and this is the
best general book on Plymouth's history we've got.
Sadly, it's now out of print. But you can usually find
it at AbeBooks (click here)
Burns, Lt. Cdr. K V "The Devonport Dockyard Story" by Lt.Cdr. Ken Burns (Maritime Books, Liskeard) 1984.
This is more a collection of short episodes, than a
comprehensive history. It's a great book to dip into.
Out of print but usually available from AbeBooks - click here
"Victorian Plymouth" by Chris Robinson.
I'm a fan of all Chris's books, but this one is my
favourite, mainly because it's about a very exciting
time in Plymouth's history, when the three towns were
bursting with civic pride and industry. It's available
from Chris's shop in New Street, The Barbican, or from
his
website.
PLYMOUTH HISTORY LINKS
Check out these excellent websites on Plymouth's history:
PLYMOUTH DATA The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History
Brian Moseley's Plymouth Data Website, covering old Plymouth, Devonport and East Stonehouse, and also the ancient parishes of St Budeaux, Eggbuckland and Tamerton Foliot, which make up the modern City of Plymouth, within the County of Devon, in the United Kingdom.
CHRIS ROBINSON
Chris Robinson's website with prints, books and Plymouth history.
PLYMOUTH CYBER-HERITAGE
Steve Johnson's wonderful emporium of historical images and maps of Plymouth.
THE BARBICAN ARCHIVE
Plymouth City Library's archive of old Barbican photographs.
For books on Plymouth you thought you would never find, try www.AbeBooks.co.uk - find more than 110 million out-of-print books worldwide.
