Museum On Tour: Plymouth From Destruction to Construction
The Box, Plymouth

When: 09 December 2017 to 22 December 2018
Where: House of Fraser, Fifth Floor, 40-46 Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1DY
Time: 9am - 5pm
Cost: Admission free
Suitable for: Any age

9am to 5pm Monday and Wednesday to Saturday
9.30am to 5pm Tuesday
10am to 4pm Sunday

Plymouth suffered greatly during World War II. The docks and naval base made it a major target resulting in the almost total destruction of the city centre and the displacement of tens of thousands of Plymothians.

Amongst this charred and ruined city, a radical new plan was developed to enable its complete redesign and reconstruction. MPs, Councillors and planners sought out the finest architects, designers and artists to create a new city – a modern city – worthy of replacing what had been lost.

The Plymouth we see today epitomises the ambition and vision of this post-war planning.

This exhibition includes fascinating objects, images and footage from the collections of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office and the South West Film and Television Archive that explore the themes of destruction and reconstruction.

Visitors of all ages can experience the inside of an Anderson Shelter, dress up in a range of replica clothing and learn more about the construction of the House of Fraser itself.

Exhibitions & Projects

  • Six Weeks To Go

    Six Weeks To Go

    Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum

    31 March 2025 to 31 October 2025

    View details

  • Kingsbridge 1939   1945 : The Image and the Place

    Kingsbridge 1939 1945 : The Image and the Place

    Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum

    31 March 2025 to 31 October 2025

    View details

  • Battle of Britain Anniversary Exhibition and Talk Series

    Battle of Britain Anniversary Exhibition and Talk Series

    Exmouth Museum and Heritage Centre registered charity 291311

    08 April 2025 to 01 November 2025

    View details

  • Jyll Bradley: Running and Returning

    Jyll Bradley: Running and Returning

    The Box, Plymouth

    05 April 2025 to 02 November 2025

    View details

  • Coastal Threads: Textile Art

    Coastal Threads: Textile Art

    Fairlynch Museum Budleigh Salterton

    01 May 2025 to 02 November 2025

    View details

  • Jyll Bradley: Life and Influences

    Jyll Bradley: Life and Influences

    The Box, Plymouth

    05 April 2025 to 02 November 2025

    View details

  • Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society Annual Open Exhibition

    Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society Annual Open Exhibition

    27 September 2025 to 02 November 2025

    View details

  • Earth Action North Devon: Explorers Create!

    Earth Action North Devon: Explorers Create!

    The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

    11 October 2025 to 22 November 2025

    View details

  • 50 Years of the Signpost Magazine

    50 Years of the Signpost Magazine

    Bampton Heritage and Visitor Centre

    18 September 2025 to 20 December 2025

    View details

  • The Friends Annual Open Exhibition

    The Friends Annual Open Exhibition

    The Burton at Bideford

    15 November 2025 to 21 December 2025

    View details

  • Dinosaurs, Dragons and Monsters

    Dinosaurs, Dragons and Monsters

    Bill Douglas Centre

    29 August 2025 to 23 December 2025

    View details

  • Northern Devon Innovates

    Northern Devon Innovates

    The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

    25 October 2025 to 03 January 2026

    View details

  • Wild

    Wild

    Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery

    26 July 2025 to 04 January 2026

    View details

  • William Cobbing: Dumb mud, I love you

    William Cobbing: Dumb mud, I love you

    The Burton at Bideford

    11 October 2025 to 10 January 2026

    View details

  • Remember Respond Resist

    Remember Respond Resist

    The Box, Plymouth

    04 October 2025 to 11 January 2026

    View details

  • Carolyn Lefley: Ancient Sea

    Carolyn Lefley: Ancient Sea

    Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery

    29 July 2025 to 25 January 2026

    View details

  • This is me  Call for entries: Documentary Photography Open 2026

    This is me Call for entries: Documentary Photography Open 2026

    The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

    01 December 2025 to 11 April 2026

    View details

  • Call for entries   Young Digital Documentary Photography Open

    Call for entries Young Digital Documentary Photography Open

    The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

    01 December 2025 to 11 April 2026

    View details