THE WAY WE LIVE - AN INTIMATE LOOK AT POST WAR PLYMOUTH AND THE PLAN AHEAD

a look at Plymouths hopes and fears just after the end of World War 2. looks at the plan to rebuild the city -like a Phoenix, "the PLAN FOR PLYMOUTH." a local family, the Copperwheats are our stars supported by the City Engineer, Paton Watson and the progessive architect Lord Abercrombie. This is a very hard to get hold of film indeed and has only been shown a few times, thanks to Channel 4 and the BFI. if ever a film should be out on dvd, this is it.

[@tomrobson5227]

What a great surprise! My Father, James Robson, played Jimmy the American sailor. Thanks Steve!

[@hiccacarryer3624]

would be great if this could be shown on that huge Telly on Armada Way one warm sunny evening - the people of Plymouth ought to know the story of their own city.

[@norman4768]

Great film with insight for me as i was born in Plymouth in 1947 unfortunatly my parents moved to Southampton in 1954 another Blitzed town, but i have always thought of Plymouth as my home so this film means a lot to me.

[@eeeandeee]

Dad was in the RN. I went to school there in the 70's. Such a clean modern vibrant city. My first job was with Plymouth City Architects (Devon County Architects) in the Civic Centre . Then the centre was pedestrianised, then people stopped going, then shops started closing....I drove through at Cristmas to revive memories on the way to Cornwall. The proud city was so scruffy and tired and run down, a shadow of its former self. The post war city fathers must be spinning in their graves. So very sad. 😞

[@plymouthbiker]

Wow didn't know this existed. Lovely bit of film history. Thanks for sharing Steve.

[@Mandydailyblog]

Lovely... Really nice to see my home town in an old movie/documentary

[@Firebrand55]

In April 1941 we lived at St. Aubyn Street, Devonport...just days later most of the area, houses Fore Street. was bombed flat, never to be re-built. The bomb shelters saved us.We joined the great Trek out of the area, the family scattering across the South West....just one of hundreds of families split by WW2.

[@collyberry]

Amazing video. Loved the old footage of Plymouth. I learned more about the recent history of my city from this video then I did at school. Thanks for posting.

[@smiledsteelydan]

Efford boy ere, bloody place never changed!!!!!

[@celiawilliams9607]

Excellent. Revealed Blitz destruction, fortitude of the people, foresight & vision, for 'all things bright and beautiful' & the politics of the day. So familiar, my late Mother being a Plymouthian, (born 1917), her Mother having a home on the 99 year lease scheme, eventually moving with her youngest daughter to a prefab. My parents moved into a Council House, on the Mannadon Estate, thought ourselves fortunate, Dad,a key worker, so it was brand new! Lack of work led to sad deterioration.

[@mrcrazyjonpresents4312]

Talking Pictures Channel broadcasted this for the first time on the 27/12/20 Great to see it in full

[@whiteangel256]

My Dad was born in Plymouth in 1946. His family moved to Australia a few years after. His Dad Kenneth Roach stayed behind. We just received a photo of his old street Harwell st now Western Approach. Bit sad thinking about it. We are still trying to find any relations in the area.

[@johnnewton219]

small world, I was born in Harwell St. (No54), moved to the lower half of Well St.(now Western Approach) when I was about 2 or 3 ( No 29) our landlord was a chap called Newberry who owned a furniture re-upholstery business around the corner, just opposite the then Cardiff Arms. any contact via facebook please.

[@lyndasmith1295]

Plymouth was a lovely City. Abercrombie didnt quite go far enough when he left certain areas standing for them to become seriously disreputable but I remember this city in the 1960's and 70's. Its a pity the idiots voted a bunch of incomers to run the council who have systematically ruined what was a beautiful place.

[@dreezgreen3793]

Wonderfully evocative document about our great city

[@TheVote2010]

An awful shame this beautiful city, with such an amazing history sacred to Americans and Britons alike, was destroyed by enemy fire between 1940 and 42. Yes many of the sums needed removing regardless of the awful consequences of warfare, but in my view the post war planners did little to improve this cultural world heritage site, which never was. Post-modernism has turned this once great city into a concrete jungle monstrosity. Such an awful shame.

[@vicstapleton7485]

Patrick Martin i

[@ripdevonhire]

Great up load

[@petestutz]

Patsy Scantlebury certainly was a beauty! And did you see the graffiti on the shelter? Obviously this isn't a modern day phenomenon.

[@dreezgreen3793]

Recently passed away in Canada ( known as Rose by then). Great performance from a novice from st budeaux!

[@lynettesharrock-white2027]

Can this be bought on CD. I would love to get it for my mother.

[@Gembob0507]

Hi Steve, great video. I'm actually looking for a copy of this for my grandparents for Christmas as they were there / are in this when it was being filmed. Any way of downloading / getting DVD copy? More than happy to pay. Regards, Gemma

[@yourenglishclasses]

USe youtubedownloader.

[@KellyMariePreston]

Does anyone happen to know what year this was filmed? I'm writing a book on my family history here in Plymouth and this is a great reference.

[@vincentdeguard4726]

the film was released in 1946...so actual filming could been 1945-1946. it also available "free-to-view" on the BFi site

[@davemiddleton3382]

Maybe its time to flatten the city and try again. This time remember that Plymouth is for the people of Plymouth and not just for tourist or for those people from up country with money to come down and buy up our homes etc... Also while the thieving bastards at South West Water continue to push so many people to chose between paying them or eating properly or even having the luxury of being able to afford to heat their homes properly we will never be able to afford the facilities that are available now. Where are the low cost facilities after all we pay enough Council tax .. :(

[@vincentdeguard4726]

it not only Plymouth that has those sort of issues

[@neilhilton35]

In 2023 it's gone even worse. Look at Civic Centre. An iconic building now a decaying eyesore. What on earth is happening in cities other than London?

[@glynevans549]

...And the planner's dream went wrong.

[@1990srave]

Very interesting old film, but such a shame Abercrombie took the modern concrete approach, as opposed to the "fake" Victorian building construction of granite with Dartmoor a ready made quarry close by. Could have been another Granite City like Aberdeen. I find Plymouth a rather disappointing city and even the new Drakes Circus seems to be yet another opportunity lost. Bring back the Victorians!

[@richardjames3446]

Interesting bit of history there. Nothing to do with modern progress though. THANKFULLY Plymouth has pushed ahead now with the bulldozer and modern development. Just needs the likes of Union Street to be sorted next.

[@37stuey]

Badly rebuilt.

[@tessey119]

Fascinating... thanks for putting this up. Of course nobody admires Plymouth architecture, so yet another failed architectural dream.

[@MrTinypinhead]

Pitty thy didn't rebuild more..

[@gavinoriley4984]

Michael Foot the best Prime Minister we never had the sense or guts to vote in. When you think we kept THATCHER for all those years it beggars belief and we wonder why we are light years away from our true potential. At least this video shows how far we have actually come and how strong the Plymothian People were under such terrible conditions and almost forgotten by the rest of the country.