Hot Off The Press – New Titles This Week

This week at The Archive we have added 211,776 new pages to our holdings. With a mighty 53 updated titles, and 9 brand new titles added, we take you from the complex underworld of women’s clothing design in London, to the threatening notices posted on gates and chapel doors in Hexham. Additionally, continue on to discover the swan scandal in Linlithgow that shook the town, and contributed to the wider conversation of human-related pollution in lochs across Scotland.

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Burnham Gazette and Visitors’ List & Highbridge Advertiser

To begin this week, we have added the Burnham Gazette and Visitors’ List & Highbridge Advertiser. This paper was established in 1864 by William Patey, who was originally employed by Joseph Salisbury, a local postmaster and bookseller, when the printing business in Burnham began. Initially it began by reporting on national news, with reports and information being imported from London. As time went on, the newspaper began to replace its national news with local news for visitors of the historic towns of Burnham and Highbridge. This village, located within Somerset in the West of England, did not get their own printing works until 1859.

Burnham Gazette and Visitors’ List & Highbridge Advertiser | 11 January 1896

This title covered all news related to the towns of both Burnham and Highbridge. On its second page, the paper featured articles on a vast variety of topics, such as ‘Farming Notes’, ‘Gardening Gossip’, ‘American Humour’, ‘Home Hints’, ‘The Woman’s World’, and ‘Art and Literature’. In the 11 January 1896 issue, the ‘A Woman’s World’ article dives into the different types of corsets best suited for different daily activities.

In 1905, the Burnham Herald appeared as a rivalry to Patey’s publication, and it quickly incorporated Highbridge Echo, a newspaper founded in 1894. The rival paper was renamed in 1909 as the Burnham and Highbridge Post but faded quickly and had subsequently ceased production by 1910.

Bolton Guardian

Next on this week’s list of new titles, we have added the Bolton Guardian from 1871. Originally named The Bolton Independent, this title was founded on 8 October 1859 by James Hall and T W Sollery. The following month, Mr Sollery withdrew from the publication and was replaced by Thomas Cunliffe and his son, John. This partnership continued until the death of Thomas Cunliffe, where the paper was ran by John Cunliffe under the name of Bolton Guardian.

Bolton Guardian | 09 December 1871

Each issue of the Bolton Guardian was a total of eight pages and cost only one penny. It covered both national news, and news relating to Bolton. The title remained in circulation, with slight variations to its title, until 1893.

Hexham Herald and Northumbrian Gazette

Next up we have The Hexham Herald and Northumbrian Gazette. This title was first published in January 1868 and ran all the way up until 16 February 1926, when it was taken over by the Hexham Courant. This latter title is still in publication today. In common with other provincial newspapers, it provided an in-depth insight into local, national and international news.

Hexham Herald and Northumbrian Gazette | 12 February 1870

Covering eight pages and costing three-halfpence, the Hexham Herald and Northumbrian Gazette kept its readers up to date with all events occurring in the Northumberland market town. In an issue from 12 February 1870, a short article titled ‘Threatening Notices’ details multiple threatening messages being ‘posted on gates or chapel doors, within a short distance of the residences of the men to whom they purported to be addressed’, with the representation of a coffin attached to each notice. The article reassured its readers that a man has been arrested and is to be charged with having written one of the notices. The contents of these threatening demands were also published;

Notice – I hereby warn you, Thomas O’ Malley and Co., not to disturb or raise the rent of your tenants, or be prepared to meet the death of Hunter. RORY. CAPTAIN MOONLIGHT

Notice – I hereby warn you, John Joyce Greggins, that if you don’t give up a farm at Fairhill quick, that villany will bring you under the deadly arm of Rory – I am. CAPT. ROCK.

Linlithgow Advertiser

Continuing on, we have the West Lothian title, Linlithgow Advertiser. Established in 1989, this title provided weekly issues that covered all news related to West Lothian and beyond. Each page is visually pleasing, with artistic imagery and bold titles drawing our eyes all over the page.

Linlithgow Advertiser | 14 February 1990

The Linlithgow Advertiser ceased publication in 2005, but it was not short on reports of fascinating stories and the latest developments in the area, such as the prediction of cable TV installation in the above issue. This title is a true time capsule from the 1990s, bringing its devoted readers a packed issue every single Wednesday.

People’s Journal (Argyll and the Isles)

The People’s Journal (Argyll and the Isles) brought its readers information relating to the Scottish Highlands and beyond. Costing 18 pence and published every Saturday, this title was plastered with local advertisements and cartoons, as well as trade and business news.

People’s Journal (Argyll and the Isles) | 16 January 1988

The below advertisement demonstrates the difference in news coverage between The People’s Journal (Inverness and Northern Counties/Argyll and The Isles) and The People’s Journal (Aberdeen and The North East).

People’s Journal (Argyll and the Isles) | 16 January 1988

Stafford & Stone Chronicle

Published every Friday, the Stafford and Stone Chronicle provided its loyal audience with local news and advertisement opportunities relating to the two towns. With both locations being roughly seven miles apart from one another, this paper endeavoured to connect the two communities with shared information and updates. From weather warnings to mortgage rate comparisons, the Stafford and Stone Chronicle appealed to inhabitants from all backgrounds.

Stafford & Stone Chronicle | 28 August 1987

In August 1987, Stafford saw ‘misery’ as ‘thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused when torrential rain proved too much for the notorious Sandyford Brook, in the north of the town.’

The article goes on to confirm that this was the 10th time in 11 years that the brook had overflowed. There was a public call to the council, demanding that they take action and fix the recurring problem, for houses were being virtually destroyed and young families were suffering.

Stafford & Stone Chronicle | 25 September 1987

The problem was not limited to Stafford. The relentless torrential rain combined with the Scotch Brook culvert being blocked with rubbish, led to Stone town centre being flooded. Lynn Watson went so far as to describe Stone as being ‘decimated’ by the rainfall.

As such, the Stafford and Stone Chronicle provided timely updates on local news in the two towns. With lots of images and creative designs, there are now 1,272 pages for you to peruse on The Archive.

Vanity

Filled to the brim with fashion advice and tips for women’s style in 1915, Vanity offers its female-oriented audience a chance to learn about what their clothes truly mean. This title was published on the first day of every month and cost a grand total of sixpence per issue.

Vanity | 01 May 1915

As its apt and direct name suggests, Vanity focused on delivering information to the upper-class woman regarding her clothing, from the top of her head, to the tips of her toes. Not only this, half-way through an issue, Vanity also featured a short story. The story from May 1915 is entitled, ‘The Harbour of Refuge’ by J. S. Fletcher.

It would appear that this May issue of Vanity was the publication’s first, and also possibly its last. In a page titled ‘Editorial Notes’, the author began with an introduction to the magazine;

With this number we embark on a venture quite unique in the shape of our own Fashion Journal. We have decided on this step as we want to keep in closer touch with all our customer friends. and we should also like them to feel that we do not value them merely for their business, but also because of the friendly relationship which exists between them and us. It is our sincere wish to serve them well, and if this little magazine helps us to understand each other better, its aim will be fully achieved.

The note ends by promising a monthly publication of Vanity, with each publication better than the last. It is unknown, however, if this title ever made it past its first issue.

Vanity | 01 May 1915

We end our list of this week’s brand new titles with two somewhat mysterious titles. The Illustrated Travelling World and Times Illustrated have both been added to The Archive this week, yet very little is known about them.

Illustrated Travelling World

This title’s subheading reads, ‘A Journal of Fact, Fiction, and Travel, for Railway and Oceanic Reading’, and we know that it cost threepence.

Illustrated Travelling World | 01 March 1890

This title features primarily blank pages, and other than the unnamed and untitled essay on its front page, very little else is known.

Times Illustrated

Times Illustrated | 07 June 1904

Our Updated Titles

This week we have updated a whopping 53 of our pre-existing titles, totalling 211,776 new pages. Our largest update of the week is to the Suffolk Chronicle, as we’ve added 1899-1911 and 1913-1965 onto The Archive. So if you feel like learning some East Anglia history, there are now 38,602 brand new pages for you to explore. Additionally, we’ve added 21,214 pages to the Wakefield Express, as well as 1,352 pages to Welsh title, Llais Y Wlad.

Swan Scandal in Linlithgow Loch

While looking into one of our brand new titles this week, Linlithgow Advertiser, we came across a story from 2003. It was recorded in this title that a mixture of rat poison and cooking oil being poured into Linlithgow Loch had resulted in numerous bird deaths. These included not only swans, but ‘between 25 and 30 birds of different species.’

Linlithgow Advertiser | 08 January 2003

The cooking oil being poured into the Loch had resulted in the swans not being waterproof enough to stay afloat and subsequently led to their drowning. In an issue from 15 January, it was revealed that animal welfare officers had removed the swans from their polluted habitat following the scandal, and would be returning home soon once it was safe to do so. The persons responsible for the oil dumping were not identified. The officer interviewed for the Linlithgow Advertiser added to her evaluation of the event,

We still haven’t traced the source of the cooking oil. It may have been vandalism or an accidental discharge but if anyone has information which might help our officers or prevent a repetition, they can call our helpline on 0870-7377722.

This scandal highlighted to the people of Linlithgow the damaging effects of pollution on the wildlife. The paper urged its residents to avoid littering or polluting the area around the loch in any capacity. Scottish National Heritage and Historic Scotland continued to record another 6 bird deaths at the time, but these were instead thought to be from natural causes. In an issue from 11 June 2003, reports state that Linlithgow Loch is ‘inspected and cleaned every week’.

Edinburgh Evening News | 07 January 2003

This event speaks to a wider issue of human-related pollution in lochs across Scotland, and reveals how careless disregarding of waste impacts our environment.

Discover more about the wider conversation of pollution in our lochs, the designs worn by upper-class women in 1915, and much more besides, in the pages of our Archive today.

New Titles

Updated Titles

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.