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We’re endlessly fascinated by the stories that people are finding in the British Newspaper Archive.While most of the stories (so far!) that people have kindly sent in have been about family history, there are 100s of other history researchers rummaging around in the Archive.Just recently, the History Department at Sevilla Football Club contacted the BNA to tell us about their amazing and historic discovery in the Archive.So, if you much preferred the “working people’s ballet” back in…

The ‘Jarrow Crusade’ began on 5 October 1936.The 207 marchers walked from Jarrow to Westminster, to protest about the poverty and unemployment in the North East of England during the Great Depression of the 1930s.We’ve been reading some fascinating stories about the ‘Jarrow March’ in the Archive, and thought we’d post these two stories that offer an excellent insight into this famous episode in the political, social and economic history of the UK during that ‘low, dishonest decade’ of the 30s.…

With the Ryder Cup much in the news at the moment, we thought we’d post two newspaper reports about the first two years of the famous tournament.The first story reports on the build-up to the match that took place at Wentworth in early June 1926. This story also reports that Mr Samuel Ryder has kindly put up a cup for this match.The second story reports on the first official tournament, which took place at the Worcester Country Club in…

31 AugustMary Ward: the first fatality in a car accident in the UK & Ireland, 31.8.1869 – find out more on the BNA blog http://bit.ly/1duuKBB“He who would valiant be ‘gainst all disaster” – John Bunyan died in London on 31 August 1688, aged 59 http://bit.ly/160Pzyp30 AugustEvacuation of children & other ‘priority classes’ from UK cities, 30/31 August 1939 – visit the BNA blog to read more http://bit.ly/16QhwtN29 AugustThe sinking of HMS Royal George at Spithead on 29 August 1782 – visit the BNA blog to read newspaper reports on this tragedy28…

Monsieurs Granpree and Le Pique fight for the hand of Mademoiselle Tirevit in the skies above ParisWe love stumbling across quirky stories in the Archive!More often than not, we find these stories while looking for something else – our eyes always seem happy to read weird and wonderful tales in adjacent columns.This strange story reports on the first duel to be fought in hot air gas [Ed: Thanks to all that provided feedback. Correction made!] balloons, in Paris,…

On 24 August 1814, a British force led by Major General Robert Ross defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg, and then marched on Washington DC.Once Ross and his soldiers reached the capital, they set fire to many public buildings, including the White House and the US Capitol. The soldiers were under strict orders not to burn any private buildings.This episode was part of the War of 1812 between Britain and the USA, which lasted until the Treaty of Ghent…

The great Hollywood screen idol, Rudolph Valentino, died on 23 August 1926, aged only 31.Known as ‘the Great Lover’, ‘Valentino’ or ‘the Latin Lover’, he was one of the biggest stars of the silent era.He died from severe pleuritis, after developing peritonitis following an operation to remove his appendix and gastric ulcers.His death caused mass hysteria in New York, as fans rioted in order to view his body in the funeral parlour.There are 100s of stories about ‘Valentino’ in…

‘Hustled out of prison – woman who got into the prison by a fraud’Dorothy Parker, writer, poet and brilliant wit, was born in New Jersey on 22 August 1893.We found this fascinating, wee story in the Archive about her blagging her way into Charlestown Prison and then being promptly thrown out of the prison when an officer overheard her telephone conversation about the Sacco-Vanzetti trial.The Sacco-Vanzetti was a cause celebre in 1927, and many people thought that the trial was a…

In Mexico City on 20 August 1940, Leon Trotsky was attacked by the Spanish communist and Soviet agent, Ramon Mercader.To mark the day and pay our respects, we’ve posted an old newspaper story about the attack on Trotsky.It’s interesting to note that the newspaper story wrongly reports the attack was carried out by a French Jew called Franck Johnson. The report also mentions that over 20 attempts had previously been made to kill Trotsky.Trotsky died of his injuries the following…

In The British Newspaper Archive we found the first ever English match to be reported in a newspaper – the match between Sheffield FC and Hallam FC at Bramall Lane Cricket Ground on 29 December 1862.Played according to ‘Sheffield Rules’, the match sounds like it might have been a little rough in places, with ‘waistcoats’ being thrown off, as the intensity of the match heightened. It seems that the long interval at half-time also caused some raised eyebrows among some of the…