Plymouth Local Studies Day 2025 – Plymouth in the 1920s

Part of the Devon in the 1920s Festival
Devon in the 1920s. Image courtesy: Karen Moore
Devon in the 1920s. Image by kind permission Claire Skinner – The Box

  • Sherwell Centre, University of Plymouth

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This year's Local Studies Day has been organised by Plymouth Octopus Project's Community Heritage Network, in partnership with University of Plymouth's Plymouth Heritage Praxis, The Box, the Old Plymouth Society and the Devon Twenties Festival.
During the day, local groups attending will display exhibitions on local history highlighting their current projects. This display will be open to the public and we actively encourage you to drop in throughout the day to talk about your own work.
Devon in the 1920s Festival
'Devon in the 1920s' is a research project hosted by Devon History Society in partnership with The Box, the South West Heritage Trust and the Devon Family History Society. Individual researchers and local heritage groups are currently beavering away, researching local people and places from the 1920s.
In the 1920s Devon emerged from the Great War. It was a time of ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Shadows’. People were able to enjoy themselves. There were new houses and jobs. Inventions such as the motor vehicle made life easier. But for others bereavement was slow to heal. Domestic drudgery like fetching water from the well continued. Technological change meant redundancy. Festival events explore both these sides of life in the 1920s.
The festival offers people a chance to imagine what life was like in their own communities 100 years ago. Home and work, education and travel, fun and fashion, find out more about the 1920s in events across the county with events taking place from March – October 2025 across Devon.
Plymouth Local Studies Day 2025 is part of the festival and comprises a day of exhibitions and talks about life in Plymouth 100 years ago, covering home, work, entertainment, films and ... increasing traffic congestion!
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PROGRAMME

08:00 | Exhibitors only
09:00 | Registration
09.30 | Heritage Network Team – Housekeeping and welcome
09:45 | Chris Robinson – Plymouth in the 1920s
10:30 | Tea/coffee – free (donations are welcome)
11:00 | Julia Neville – Life in Devon in the 1920s: Shadows and Sunshine
11:45 | Karen Moore – Swimming in the 1920s
12:30 | Lunch
14:00 | Alan Butler – Updates from the Heritage Network
14:30 | Richard Fisher – Women’s Organisations and the 1920s Royal Visit Pageant
15:15 | Tea/coffee – free
15:45 | Dr Ian Hodgins – Dead Interesting: 1920s Tales from a Victorian Cemetery
16:30 | The Box – Archival Film Programme
17:00 | Thanks and close
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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