Images of England : Plymouth
Images of England : Plymouth
Available from Waterstone's,WH Smith's and all good book shops.
From the back cover:
This fascinating collection of over 200 archive photographs and postcards,many not seen before,shows Plymouth from the late 1800's to the early 1950's.From the early days of horse drawn trams and early automobiles through to the blitz of 1941 and the reconstruction of the city in 1947. Featuring many images of a pre-war Plymouth and streets now long gone. Plymouth has seen vast changes over the years and this book explores many of these. Never short of entertainment,Plymouth has been visited by a wealth of celebrities including Laurel and Hardy,Harry Houdini,Buffalo Bill and Lillie Langtry.Some older residents of the city will have heard tales of Houdini's jump in chains from Ha'penny Bridge at Stonehouse and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in the early 1900's.There will also be fond memories of the grand old theatres in the city and of Plymouth Hoe,its pier and the many shows that took place there.Older residents will remember the Summer dances,roller skating and Sunday concerts given by the Royal Marines Band. Detailed and informative,this book is sure to bring back memories and will be enjoyed by all those who know and love this city.
'A fascinating collection of rare postcards and photographs' Plymouth Extra.
'Nostalgic glimpses of Plymouth before and after the Blitz' Western Morning News.
No longer available from Tempus Publishing. Now re-printed by Driftwood Coast Publishing in 2008. Details available here
From the back cover : During the Second World War, Plymouth suffered some of the worst Blitz damage in the country. Bustling streets such as Bedford Street, George Street and Old Town Street were totally destroyed, while popular stores including Dingles,Pophams,Boots and Woolworths were reduced to rubble. Casualties were high, yet the people of Plymouth kept their spirits up with concerts and regular dances held on the Hoe. Illustrated with over 220 archive photographs and documents, "Plymouth at War" offers a unique record of the wartime history of Plymouth. This volume documents aspects of everyday life during this time,from the destruction of homes by enemy bombing and air-raid casualties, to the trials of rationing and evacuation, and recalls the people who lived in and defended the city during those dangerous years.
