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The ultimate wedding planner, thanks to the historic newspapers

There are many good reasons to search the newspaper archives, such as when you’re looking for your ancestors or researching a local area or historical event. But sometimes it’s nice to just have a browse through the articles. More often than not, you’ll turn up some articles you would never have thought to search for… Search the newspapers …like these articles which provide some sound advice for anyone planning their big day. Don’t forget the banns Don’t drop the ring

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The cure to “Zeppelinitis”: German airships attack Britain for the first time on this day in 1915

On the night of the 19th January 1915, two German Zeppelins appeared out of the dark on the Norfolk coast and conducted the first airship attack on British soil. They had set out for Humberside, but strong winds had seen them divert to the areas around Great Yarmouth, Sheringham and King’s Lynn. It would be the first of over 50 Zeppelin attacks on the UK. Strategically, they proved largely ineffective, with night raids and bad weather conditions making it difficult

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Author Interview: Richard Tomlinson

In the first of a new occasional series we’re talking to author Richard Tomlinson, whose latest book Amazing Grace: The Man who was W.G, was partly researched using the Archive. We talked about his research techniques and how digital searches can uncover extraordinary detail about famous lives. In Amazing Grace, Tomlinson has painted a picture of a sporting celebrity and a complex man with fresh insights into some of the contradictions that made up the cricketing hero. He told us

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Your newspaper discoveries: The case of the poisonous Bath buns

Michelle Higgs, author of A Visitor’s Guide to Victorian England, got in touch to share this shocking story she found in The British Newspaper Archive. What have you found in the newspapers? Let us know by emailing press@britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk ************** Victorian Britain was a hazardous place to live, and not just because there was a potential accident around every corner. The trading standards and food hygiene we take for granted today simply didn’t exist, so shoppers often risked illness or even

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The World’s First Fatal Car Accident – 31 August 1869

Locomotive steam carriage for common roads 1860

On 31 August 1869, Mary Ward (nee King) became the first person to die in a car accident in Ireland and Great Britain. The terrible accident occurred in County Offaly in Ireland.  Mary Ward, along with Captain the Honourable Henry Ward, Honourable Randal and Clare Parsons, were travelling on a road locomotive steam-engine when it turned a sharp corner leading to Cumberland Street near Parsonstown.  The sharp turn caused Mrs Ward to fall forward to the ground and the vehicle drove

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