The world as it was
The historical newspapers on the British Newspaper Archive represent a mirror of the times during which they were published. From 1699 onwards, our newspapers paint a detailed picture of the past, as they chronicle national events like the coronation of a monarch, or narrate smaller, more localised events, like the theft of a horse from a village field.
Think of old newspapers as the social media of the day. They provided the latest breaking news, alongside entertaining stories, and notices letting readers know who had been born, married, and died that week. From the local to the national, and even the international, history, of all shades, is captured through the pages of our collection.
And because our newspapers cover news in many different forms, you can use the British Newspaper Archive to research an immense range of subjects. We are a go-to tool for family historians, and over the years, have been used in researching the history of different football clubs across the country, as well as being an important platform for local studies research, and for research into the suffragist movement.
That’s just a snapshot of where the British Newspaper Archive can take you. Step back into the headlines of yesteryear, as well as those of the not-too-distant past and see what you can uncover.
Simple searches and advanced research
Searching the British Newspaper Archive is easy. To begin, you can search with a name, keyword, or phrase. You can even search with a combination of these different fields, using names alongside keywords and phrases.
The British Newspaper Archive has a series of advanced search tools to help you narrow down your search. From filters that allow you to search by location or a date range, or to sort your results from earliest to latest, or indeed the other way round, our advanced search capabilities are on hand to guide and refine your research, to return search results quickly and efficiently.