The tradition of sending and receiving Valentine’s Day cards is well documented in The British Newspaper Archive, but not all were as sentimental as you might expect. We’ve found a number of references in our historical newspapers to the unusual Valentines that were exchanged. Here’s a selection of the best for you to enjoy. 1) I saw you kiss the office boy This little rhyme about an office romance was included in the Nottingham Evening Post in 1903: 2) With …
Headlines from History
Facebook is 10 years old today, but did you know there was actually also a ‘Face-book’ in 1902? We’ve found this reference in the Western Times, describing a book in which ‘everyone who comes to stay has to draw a face in… however badly, and sign his name underneath’. View the whole newspaper page Western Times – Wednesday 30 April 1902 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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We’re planning some exciting changes in 2014 and would love to get a better understanding of what you want from The British Newspaper Archive. Complete our survey and win a 12 month subscription Please spare us 10 minutes of your time to complete a short survey, telling us how you use the website and what you’d like to see more of. Complete the survey Not only will you be helping to shape the future of The British …
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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 …
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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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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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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