In December 1920 the world’s first illustrated weekly news magazine the Illustrated London News delved into the ‘curiosities and ingenuities‘ of the Patent Office, featuring some of Britain’s most unusual rejected patents. Illustrated by the publication’s own artist W.B. Robinson, the Illustrated London News presented a series of the bizarre designs that had been submitted to the Patent Office, but had since ‘lain dormant.’ We at The Archive were keen to delve into our collection’s cabinet of curiosities, and these …
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We are at The Archive are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty The Queen. During her seven decades on the throne, she witnessed great change. With her calm determination, her sparkling humour and an unwavering sense of duty, she stood as a beacon of constancy and comfort to millions. To honour the memory of the late Queen, we have looked back at her extraordinary life through our newspapers, from when she was born, when her destiny was set to …
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On 16 January 1867 Regent’s Park in London was witness to the worst ice-skating tragedy in British history. In this special blog post, we take a look at how the newspapers in our Archive can help us understand exactly what happened that day, by hearing from the voices of those who were caught up in the catastrophe. In the Luton Times & Advertiser, 19 January 1867, the following is described: At about a quarter-past four, when a large number of …
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This week we are delighted to bring you some very special highlights from The Archive. We are diving into our immense collection to bring you our choice of ‘Newspaper of the Week,’ as well as uncovering headlines from the past. Register now and explore the Archive Newspaper of the Week This week’s pick for newspaper of the week is one of our more well known titles, namely the Illustrated London News. The Illustrated London News ran for over 160 years, and was one …
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Using newspapers from The Archive, in this special blog we take a look at the history of Charter Fairs, from their inception in the medieval period to their continuation in twentieth century Britain. In his June 1955 article for The Sphere, entitled A Partial Eclipse of the Fair, Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald notes how ‘Fairs are of very ancient origin,’ and have been part of British life for thousands of years. A Charter Fair was a fair endorsed by the Crown. Crown-issued …
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The Illustrated London News, the world’s first illustrated newspaper, debuted in 1842. Over the decades, the publishers expanded into the ‘great 8’ titles: Sketch, Sphere, Tatler, Graphic, Bystander, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, and Britannia and Eve. In 1928, the Illustrated London News published an illustration of the interior of their own offices at Inveresk House, ‘a hive of journalistic industry’. Discover more about the history of the Illustrated London News In the image, you can see the offices of the individual …
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This month in the Cookery Corner, we are taking a looking at international dishes to continue our theme of Travel & Migration. Diving into the newspapers, we uncovered recipes for Flemish Carbonnade de Boeuf, Spanish Paella Valenciana, and Canadian Maple Bread, as well as tips to cook the perfect rice and details about the fashionable war dinners in London. International dishes To launch our culinary world tour, I found an article in The Tatler with recipes from multiple countries: Italy, Spain, …
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On this day, 30 June, in 1864, American President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act. The Act gave the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the state of California, ‘upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation’. Today, more than 4 million people visit the site every year, which has become both a national park and World Heritage Site. We have rambled through the pages of The British Newspaper …
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January, Chiswick by Laura Knight, Illustrated London News 1979 
February, Kew Gardens, Derek Rodgers, Illustrated London News 1979 
March, Kensington Gardens by Martin Leman, Illustrated London News 1979 
April, Hampton Court by Christine Simpson, Illustrated London News 1979 
May, Richmond Park by Anne Howeson, Illustrated London News 1979 
June, Queen Mary’s Garden, Regents Park by Katy Sleight, Illustrated London News 1979 
July, Hatfield House by Laura Knight, Illustrated London News 1979 
August, Hyde Park by Derek Rodgers, Illustrated London News 1979 
September, Savill Gardens, Windsor Great Park by Martin Leman, Illustrated London News 1979 
October, St James’s Park by Christine Simpson, Illustrated London News 1979 
November, Osterley Park by Anne Howeson, Illustrated London News 1979 
December, Syon House by Katy Sleight, Illustrated London News 1979
In 1979 The Illustrated London News published a series of artworks illustrating gardens throughout the year. This delightful series showcased gardens and artists alike. Click on the images to enlarge and enjoy interpretations of famous gardens such as Kew and Kensington from artists such as Martin Leman and Katy Sleight.
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Today, we’re looking at two events that occurred on 18 May: the Khodynka Tragedy in 1896 and Jacqueline Cochran’s breaking of the sound barrier in 1953. Khodynka Tragedy The first took place in 1896 in the Khodynka Field, Moscow. The field was the site of festivities honouring the recent coronation of Emperor Nicholas II. Thousands gathered to celebrate and to, hopefully, receive rumoured gifts of food and a commemorative cup. With growing and increasingly frenzied crowds, the police force on …