Royal William Yard marks 200 years with landmark exhibition

A major new exhibition has opened in Plymouth, celebrating two centuries of Royal William Yard with a remarkable collection of original artefacts, historical documents and personal stories – many exhibited together for the first and only time.

The 200 Exhibition, now open at Melville Corner until 28th September, marks the bicentenary of what is considered the largest collection of Grade I listed military buildings in Europe. Built between 1825 and 1835 to designs by Sir John Rennie and Philip Richards, the Yard once served as the beating heart of Royal Navy supply operations and has since been transformed into one of Plymouth’s most vibrant waterfront destinations.

The free exhibition brings together treasures from The National Archives, Devonport Naval Heritage Centre, Plymouth Proprietary Library, and acclaimed local historians Chris Robinson and Richard Fisher, alongside community contributions from the year-long 200 Stories campaign. Many items have been loaned from private collections and archives and are unlikely ever to be displayed together again.

The collection reveals extraordinary aspects of the Yard’s history – from its role in feeding a global empire to the personal stories of those who worked behind its monumental stone walls. Visitors can view Sir John Rennie’s original plans, Victorian wage lists, and technical drawings that are as artistic as they are functional. The exhibition also features original naval uniforms, cooper’s barrels, and indenture documents binding teenagers to gruelling apprenticeships.

Some stories highlight surprising turns of history. The Brewhouse, completed in 1831, never fulfilled its purpose; just as it was finished, beer was removed from naval rations and replaced with rum. The Mills Bakery, meanwhile, could produce 270,000 pounds of ship’s biscuits in a single week thanks to steam-powered machinery.

The exhibition also explores personal connections. Among the community stories are Stephen Dryden’s account of rum ration traditions, Arthur Roberts’ tale of missing sugar from HMS Ark Royal, and David Trigger MBE’s reflection on being part of a family that worked at the Yard for five generations. Kay Vickery contributed wedding photographs and explained how the Yard meant so much to her family that she named her son William in its honour.

Royal William Yard continued to evolve throughout its working life, passing to the Naval Ordnance Department in 1891 and operating until its closure in 1992. That year, Derrick Pearce MBE was ceremonially “pulled out” by the Devonport Field Gun Crew after 46 years of MOD service. In the decades since, developer Urban Splash has transformed the site into a thriving waterfront community that now attracts over a million visitors annually.

Visitors to the exhibition can also enjoy the History Trail, featuring 11 stops across the Yard with QR codes unlocking audio stories and first-hand accounts.

Local historian Chris Robinson praised the initiative: “This exhibition is well worth visiting for anyone interested in Plymouth's remarkable heritage. Having spent years researching Royal William Yard's complex story, I'm impressed by how this collection bridges the gap between official records and human experience, giving visitors a complete picture of how this extraordinary place evolved from Rennie's ambitious vision into the destination we know today.”

The 200 Exhibition is open daily 11am–4pm at Melville Corner, with free entry. 

More information can be found at: www.royalwilliamyard.com/200-exhibition