For more than four decades, one man has been capturing Plymouth as it changes, preserving the streets, buildings and memories many thought were lost forever.
Chris Robinson has become one of the city’s best-known local historians, dedicating his career to documenting Plymouth’s past through books, illustrations and decades of research.
Chris began by sketching scenes of old Plymouth carefully recreating buildings and streets, many of which had already changed or disappeared. That passion soon turned into writing, building a loyal following of readers interested in the city’s history. Over the years, Chris has produced a wide range of books covering Plymouth across different eras, from Victorian times through to the modern city.
His work focuses on the details people connect with most: familiar streets, lost pubs, old shops and the everyday life of the city. It’s not just history it’s memory. A Historic Base on the Barbican, Chris’s work has long been based from New Street on the Barbican, one of Plymouth’s oldest and most historic areas.
His shop, set within one of these historic buildings, has become a well-known stop for those interested in local history. While now open mainly during the Christmas period, much of his work has moved online, reaching audiences far beyond Plymouth. 40 Years. and still finding more
More than 40 years after his first book, Chris is still actively working on new projects. His latest focuses on Plymouth in the 1960s, a decade of major change using newly discovered colour photographs that offer a fresh look at the city during that time.
Even after decades of work, new pieces of Plymouth’s story are still being uncovered. A Lasting Record of the City. Through his books and illustrations, Chris has created a lasting record of Plymouth not just how it looked, but how it felt to live here. As the city continues to change, that record becomes more important than ever.
Photographs and Video © Wayne Perry / Plymouth Post