Did you know that badminton originated in India? Versions of the game had been played by local children for years and it was adopted by British military officers stationed there. We’ve found this charming illustration of ‘the new game of badminton in India’, printed in The Graphic in 1874: View the whole newspaper page The Graphic – Saturday 25 April 1874 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. British in India family history records If you’re interested in …
Walter Arnold became the first British person to be fined for speeding on this day in 1896. This report from the London Daily News reveals that he’d been travelling at a reckless 8 mph! View the whole newspaper page London Daily News – Thursday 30 January 1896 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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The British Newspaper Archive’s scanning team have recently moved from Colindale to Boston Spa and we’re thrilled to report that they’ve now started digitising the first newspapers in their new home! Here are some behind-the-scenes photos: Read more about how The British Newspaper Archive digitises historic newspapers
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Gordon Martin recently got in touch to show us what the newspapers have helped him find out about his great-great-uncle Charles Alfred Martin. We love hearing about your finds, so please do let us know what you’ve discovered by emailing press@britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk ************** Charles Alfred Martin I had long known the existence of great-great-uncle Charles, the youngest child of a seaman born in Magdeburg, Prussia who served on HMS Achille at the Battle of Trafalgar of 1805. His father had arrived …
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Author A.A. Milne was born on this day in 1882. Take a look at the Aberdeen Journal’s glowing review of ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ when it was published in 1926: View the whole newspaper page Aberdeen Journal – Thursday 09 December 1926 Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
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The Huddersfield Chronicle reported that John Hetherington wore the first top hat on this day in 1797. The article stated that he was arrested for breach of the peace after ‘several women fainted at the unusual sight’: View the whole newspaper page Huddersfield Chronicle – Tuesday 24 January 1899 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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We’re pleased to report that The British Newspaper Archive added over 175,000 historic newspaper pages in December, so you’ll have plenty of new stories to explore in 2014! Start searching the newspapers The papers feature international, national and local news, including this delightful report about a marriage that took place in Burnley in 1916. The bride is reported to have worn a pale blue dress, a traditional colour that actually pre-dates the trend for white gowns. The couple’s wedding …
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The first shipments of tea arrived in Britain from India 175 years ago today. You’ll find numerous adverts and articles about tea in The British Newspaper Archive, including this charming illustration of an aquatic tea party in 1881: View the whole newspaper page The Graphic – Saturday 22 October 1881 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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The stormy UK weather has been monopolising the news lately, as it also did in 1831. The Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette reported the following: ‘We never recollect in one week so many and so violent thunder-storms as during the last… at Ilsley the hail-stones laid on the ground 18 inches deep, and great numbers of rooks and other birds were killed.’ Read the full newspaper snippet below or view the whole newspaper page. Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette – …
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Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout Movement, died on 8th January 1941. The Evening Telegraph reported that his last words to the Boy Scouts were “sleeves up and with tails up, go to it to win the war.” Read the full newspaper snippet below or view the whole newspaper page. Evening Telegraph – 8 January 1941 Image © D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD View the full newspaper page