Royal William Yard is marking its 200th anniversary in 2025 — and is calling on the public to help shape the celebrations. A new campaign, 200 Stories, has launched to gather memories, photographs, documents, artwork and artifacts that reflect the Yard’s rich and varied history.

The aim is to collect 200 contributions from the community, which will form the basis of two major bicentennial initiatives: a summer History Trail and an autumn 200 Exhibition. The campaign invites individuals, families, and organisations with a connection to or interest in the site — whether through its Naval past, regeneration journey, or more recent life as a cultural and community destination — to get involved.

A proud past

Built in 1825 and designed by legendary British engineer Sir John Rennie, Royal William Yard is one of Britain's most important groups of historic military buildings and Europe's largest collection of Grade I Listed military buildings. Once a bustling victualling facility that produced food, drink, and supplies for Naval fleets, it now stands as a vibrant community hub attracting a vast volume of visitors.

Named after the last Lord High Admiral, King William IV, Royal William Yard served as a vital Royal Navy victualling facility from 1825, helping to keep Britain's naval fleet supplied for over a century.

After closing in the 1980s, it fell into disrepair until Urban Splash began its award-winning regeneration in 2004. Today, it's a thriving mixed-use destination featuring restaurants, bars, retailers, art galleries, offices, and residential spaces, while preserving its important architectural and historical heritage. Royal William Yard has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades – and this year offers the opportunity to celebrate and remember all that has gone before.

Celebrating 200 Years

The 200 Stories campaign is about uncovering the human connections to the site, as well as uncovering the hidden histories and experiences that have shaped this special part of Plymouth over two centuries. The campaign seeks to gather 200 unique contributions from the public, including:

• Personal memories and anecdotes
• Photographs and images
• Artifacts related to the Yard's history
• Artwork inspired by Royal William Yard
• Family connections to the site's Naval past
• Professional documents from Yard workers.

All contributions will form part of two major bicentennial projects:

• History Trail – Launching this summer, this free tour throughout Royal William Yard will be an interactive trail, connecting visitors to a wealth of digital content, videos and audio. Take a trip through archives, plans, pictures and stories that bring the past alive in a unique way.
• 200 Exhibition – Taking place this autumn, this curated exhibition at Royal William Yard will showcase original artifacts, historical documents, images and art, sourced from The National Archives, Devonport Naval Heritage Centre, Plymouth Proprietary Library, local historians and more. This will sit alongside the content gathered through the 200 Stories campaign.

Uncovering hidden history

Both the trail and exhibition will showcase historical insights uncovered during the Yard’s restoration (like the story of the Brewhouse built to fulfil the Navy's beer ration, which was abolished just as construction finished!), plans and drawings by engineering legend Sir John Rennie, and an array of fascinating facts, discoveries and artifacts. Much of this collection will be on display to the public for the first time, all housed together within Royal William Yard itself.

Anyone with a story to tell or material to share should email 200@royalwilliamyard.com All contributions will be collected over the coming months, shared on a dedicated website, and incorporated into the History Trail and 200 Years Exhibition.

For more information and to stay updated on bicentennial events throughout 2025, visit www.royalwilliamyard.com/200