This week at The Archive we have traversed the length and breadth of England in order to bring you new and updated titles from Somerset all the way to Northumberland. In all, we have added 75,198 brand new pages – with two exciting new titles joining us, namely the West Bridgford Advertiser and the Beds and Herts Pictorial.

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Published in Nottingham every Saturday, the West Bridgford Advertiser was the local newspaper of ‘South Nottingham, Sneiton, Basford, Hyson Green and Rushcliffe Division.’ Situated immediately south of Nottingham, West Bridgford is famed for its sporting ties, being the home of Nottingham Forest Football Club, and Trent Bridge cricket ground, the world’s third oldest test venue.

West Bridgford Advertiser | 14 August 1915

Meanwhile, the Beds and Herts Pictorial began life as the Beds and Herts Tuesday Telegraph. Published in Luton, the newspaper had a total revamp in August 1921 when it became the Beds and Herts Pictorial. Moving from a text-heavy front page, the publication went on to feature wall-to-wall photographs, the first edition of the Beds and Herts Pictorial placing pictures of the Luton Harriers upon its front page.

Beds and Herts Pictorial | 3 March 1931

We have updates this week to some of our most historic titles, including the Derby Daily Telegraph and the Manchester Evening News. The first newspaper to be produced in Derby, the Derby Daily Telegraph was founded in 1879 by Eliza M Pike, the widow of John Beard Pike, who had run the Derby and Chesterfield Reporter. Whilst the Manchester Evening News, founded in 1868 by wealthy surgeon and businessman Mitchell Henry in attempt to be elected to parliament as a Liberal MP, had become Britain’s biggest selling provincial newspaper by 1939.

We have also added new pages to the Liverpool Echo, which was founded in 1879 and continues today as Liverpool’s premier local newspaper. Another local newspaper to which we have added new pages is the Huddersfield Daily Chronicle. Running from 1850 to 1916, this title espoused liberal and progressive politics, supporting free trade and advocating national education for all.

A Royal Engagement

In January 1923 the engagement between the Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was announced, and reported on a day later in our new publication the Beds and Herts Pictorial. The newspaper reflects how ‘the news of this event…will be received with keen and affectionate interest in every part of the Empire.’

Staffordshire Sentinel | 17 January 1923

The marriage of the King’s second son was of course a significant event, but carries perhaps more significance now as the Duke of York went on to become king after his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936. It was the Duke of York and his bride Lady Elizabeth, who as King and Queen, would guide their country through the darkest days of the Second World War. The Beds and Herts Pictorial, reporting in 1923, writes quite profoundly on the character of the Duke, illuminating how he would go on to cope with the challenges of war-time leadership:

Good wishes for the future happiness of the Duke of York and his chosen bride will go forth from wide and diverse circles. It is not easy for one who must follow the traditions of high estate to take a definite line of his own but his Royal Highness, by his close and sympathetic studies of the problems which present themselves in the social progress of to-day, has pursued lines of independent thought and action of immediate usefulness and future value.

Dundee Courier | 16 January 1923

The newspaper would not have then known how great this ‘future value’ would be. Meanwhile, in describing the Duke of York’s bride Lady Elizabeth, the Beds and Herts Pictorial focuses at first on her appearance, describing her as ‘small, dark and piquant,’ as well as being an ‘animated talker’ and ‘very fond of dancing.’ The newspaper does praise her high level of education however, as well as labeling her the ‘Bride of the Year.’

The Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon went on to be married on 26 April 1923 at Westminster Abbey. Our other new title, the West Bridgford Advertiser, relates how ‘London is crowded for the week, and there is everywhere an atmosphere of goodwill.’ It builds on the Beds and Herts Pictorial’s positive impression of the bridegroom, relaying how he is ‘unreservedly popular’ due to his ‘homely friendliness and common sense.’

The newly-married Duke and Duchess of York leave Buckingham Palace | Illustrated London News | 28 April 1923

New Titles

Updated Titles

This week we have updated five of our existing titles.

You can learn more about each of the titles we add to every week by clicking on their names. On each paper’s title page, you can read a FREE sample issue, learn more about our current holdings, and our plans for digitisation.

You can keep up to date with all the latest additions by visiting the recently added page.  You can even look ahead to see what we’re going to add tomorrow.