Dial – Saturday 21 January 1860 INSOLVENT DEBTORS’ COURT. IN THE MATTER OF CHARLES SHIPWAY.—This insolvent, described as a Baptist minister, known as the Rev. Charles Shipway, late of Little Hedingham, near Halstead, Essex, who was in the Queen’s Prison, applied to be discharged.—The insolvent was minister of the chapel […]
Ian Waugh
226 posts
Hereford Journal – Wednesday 30 December 1846 LEDBURY. TURKEY STEALING. – At the Ledbury Petty Sessions last week, two men named John Smith and William Hough were charged with stealing two turkeys, the property of Mrs. Ann Patrick, of Yarkhill. Smith lives at Malvern; Hough being a lodger in his […]
Liverpool Evening Express – Tuesday 20 January 1925 CHASE AFTER MAN WITH DIAMONDS. STORY OF RAID ON JEWEL SHOP AT WARRINGTON. Evening Express Correspondent. Warrington, Tuesday. John Mackay, a young Irishman, no fixed abode, was committed at Warrington today to the Liverpool Assizes on a charge of breaking into a […]
Chatham Standard – Wednesday 28 June 1950 FELL WHILE PICKING CHERRIES Misadventure Verdict At Inquest On Farm Labourer As the result of a fall from a ladder while picking cherries, 79-years-old Henry James Lockyer, a farm labourer, of 13, Pembury-st., Sittingbourne, died later in St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Rochester, from shock […]
Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times – Saturday 11 October 1873 HUNTING THE POLICE AND RIOTING AT CAMBORNE The police and the mining population of Camborne appear not to be able to saddle horses at all well. Some time ago, there was very personal and bitter controversy between the […]
Coventry Evening Telegraph – Wednesday 30 May 1945 Birmingham Trip in Stolen Motor Lorry Receiving a telephone message from the Birmingham police that a lorry from Coventry had collided with a trolley-bus pole there, and they were detaining a youth who was in the lorry at the time, Detective Dickens […]
The Kensington Post – Friday 14 October 1927 ACCIDENTS Colliding with a motor ‘bus at the junction of Wesley Road and Shakespeare Avenue, Stonebridge, Miss Emily Cox, of 28 Pitfield Way, Stonebridge, who was riding a bicycle, was injured, and after treatment by Dr. Bateman, was taken home in the […]
Pictorial Times – Saturday 06 March 1847 CRIMES AND CASUALTIES. Fatal Collision in the River. A collision, involving what is supposed to be the loss of seven lives, happened early on Sunday morning in the river, off Old Haven, about two miles below Tilbury Fort. The vessel which is lost […]
Leeds Mercury – Thursday 18 December 1884 THE ALLEGED EXTENSIVE THEFT OF AMMUNITION At the Sunderland Police-court yesterday, before the Mayor and a full bench of magistrates, Thomas Miller, a gunsmith, and John Hefferman, Sergeant-Major of the Sunderland Rifle Volunteers, were charged on remand with stealing over 14,000 rounds of […]
Reading Mercury – Monday 09 June 1834 LAW AND POLICE ARCHES COURT — FRIDAY, MAY 30. HADLEY v. REYNOLDS, FALSELY CALLED HADLEY. This was a suit promoted by the Rev. James Hadley, of Powick, in Worcestershire, against Emma, his wife, for a nullity of marriage, on the ground of undue […]
South Western Star – Friday 11 May 1923 “THAT’S ROBBERY—HIGHWAY ROBBERY.” Two Battersea boys, Percy Newcombe (11), 98 Livingstone-road, and John Johnson (9), 91 Livingstone-road, were charged on remand with stealing a £1 note belonging to Mrs. Taylor, of Peter’s-place, Battersea, from her son. Last week Detective Bond stated that […]
Globe – Thursday 27 September 1883 front The Salvation Army Nuisance At Accrington Police-court yesterday, six members of the Salvation Army, named George Hill, Ellen Williams, Phoebe Kiley, Leonard Halsall, Alfred Farmer, and Henry Bradshaw, were summoned for assaulting Joseph Edmundson, cab proprietor, on the 17th inst. The evidence showed […]
Eastern Daily Press – Saturday 02 December 1905 LONDON UNEMPLOYED COLLISIONS WITH THE POLICE FIVE DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED About 500 unemployed attended what was described as the first of a series of meetings on Tower Hill, London, yesterday. The city police had previously notified the Southwark Unemployed Committee that they would […]
Blackpool Times – Thursday 03 January 1901 Alleged Theft of a Diamond Ring. Defendant Too Ill to Appear. At the Preston General Quarter Sessions, held yesterday, the Chairman, Mr. Worsley-Taylor, Q.C., M.P., stated that the case against Richard Thompson Cubbin, who was charged with stealing a fur-lined overcoat from the […]
Nottingham Journal (Nottingham Daily Express) – Tuesday 30 May 1899 SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT COALVILLE ATTEMPTED MURDER & SUICIDE A sensation was caused in Coalville yesterday morning by the news that a man named William Evans had attempted to murder his wife and then to commit suicide. Inquiries proved that the […]
Yorkshire Gazette – Saturday 03 May 1862 TUESDAY, April 29. – Before R. Evers, Esq. OBSTRUCTING THE FOOTPATH. – A youth named Christopher Marsh was charged with obstructing the footpath near to the Railway Station. He was standing on the flags with the usual apparatus for cleaning the boots of […]
Chichester Express and West Sussex Journal – Tuesday 09 July 1872 THE CHARGE OF PERJURY. In the charge against the men, Basschell and Leggett, adjourned from the last court on a question of jurisdiction, the clerk to the magistrates informed the bench that he had taken the opinion of Mr. […]
Sheffield Independent, Monday, 5 January 1874: Critical Condition of a Drunken Man About eight o’clock on Saturday evening, Police-constable Stone found a man named William Keddy of Arthur Street lying in Bridge Street. He was drunk and bleeding profusely from a wound on the back of his head. The officer […]
Barnsley Chronicle – Saturday 11 February 1860 Vagrancy. James Greenham, an old man, who is said to have had nearly one stone of bread in his possession when he was taken into custody, was charged on Wednesday, at the Court-house, before J. Barff, Esq., with begging alms on Monday. Police-constable […]
Hendon & Finchley Times – Friday 21 December 1928 FINCHLEY TRAGEDY AGED NIGHT-WATCHMAN KILLED BY TRAMCAR NEAR CEMETERY. EXTENSIVE BODY INJURIES. William Herbert Bailey Knight, aged 68, of 54, Durham Road, Tottenham, died in the Finchley Memorial Hospital on Friday, after having been knocked down, earlier in the day, by […]
Berkshire Chronicle – Saturday 03 September 1898 Continental Cottage Garden Society The sixth annual show of vegetable marrows and sunflowers in connection with the above society was held on Saturday afternoon at the “Warwick Arms.” There was a large entry, and some very fine specimens were shown, though not quite […]
Illustrated Police News – Saturday 18 January 1890 THE WEST END SCANDALS. [WITH GROUP OF PORTRAITS SKETCHED IN COURT.] At Bow-street Police-court, on Friday, before Mr. Vaughan, Arthur Newton, solicitor, of Great Marlborough-street; Frederick Taylerson, his articled clerk; and Adolphus De Galla, interpreter, again appeared on an adjourned summons, charging […]
Bournemouth Daily Echo – Monday 20 August 1900 BOURNEMOUTH BOROUGH POLICE COURT. TO-DAY. Before the Mayor (Mr. J. C. Webber), Major Gen. Stansfeld, Mr. G. W. Rebbeck, Mr. C. W. Wyatt, and Mr. H. C. Stockey. AN ERRAND BOY’S THEFT. William Evans, an errand boy in the employ of Mr. […]
Age (London) – Saturday 19 April 1845 THAMES-POLICE. On Monday Ellen Cox, the wife of a labourer, was brought before Mr. Broderip, charged with an assault on her husband. Edward Cox, the complainant, said he lived at No. 18, Dock-street, Whitechapel, and that he was unfortunately married to the woman at the […]
Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette – Thursday 31 March 1842 SOMERSETSHIRE SPRING SESSIONS The following are the names of the prisoners tried at these Sessions, with the nature of the offences, and the result of the trials: Felonies: Transportation—For Life: George Gullick, an old offender, for stealing a lantern, the […]
Birmingham Daily Post – Thursday 28 December 1865 BIRMINGHAM POLICE COURT YESTERDAY Before Messrs. T.C.S. Kynnersley (Stipendiary), J. Poncia, S. Buckley, H. Van Wart, and S. Thornton. STEALING A WATCH. — John Kenyon (18), labourer, having no home, was charged with having stolen a silver watch, value 30s., from the […]
Illustrated London News – Saturday 18 September 1852. WILLS The will, with four codicils, of the late J. M. W. Turner, R.A., has, during the past week, been admitted to probate. The personality was valued at £140,000. There were nine executors appointed; five only have proved, namely: the Rev. H. […]
Saint James’s Chronicle – Thursday 26 December 1844 BOW-STREET.—On Tuesday Robert Hobson, the keeper of a receiving-house for the postage of letters at Walthamstow, was brought up for final examination, charged with embezzling the sum of 1s. 10d., being the postage of a letter to Calcutta, the particulars of which […]
Worthing Gazette – Wednesday 28 December 1892 Worthing Police Court Petty Sessions, This Day—Before Mr. T. Gaisford (Chairman), the Mayor (Alderman E. C. Patching), Lieut.-Colonel Wisden, Major A. Henty, Mr. H. H. Hargood, and Mr. C. L. M. Teesdale. Captain Drummond, the Chief Constable, occupied a seat on the Bench. […]
In December 1705, Britain was involved in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714). This conflict arose from disputes over who should succeed to the Spanish throne after the death of the childless Charles II of Spain in 1700. The war pitted two major alliances against each other: The Grand […]
Runcorn Weekly News – Wednesday 24 December 1913 KNOCKED DOWN IN THE DARK AT DITTON. TWO MEN INJURED IN MOTOR VAN ACCIDENT. STRANGE AFFAIR IN STEWARD’S LANE. The somewhat serious injuries sustained by two men by being knocked down by a motor van in Steward’s Lane, close to the Ball […]
Marylebone Mercury – Friday 23 December 1949 Shoplifting — ‘Wicked dishonesty’ Sentencing Bessie Studd, 48, housewife, of Lower Higham Road, Gravesend, Kent, to five months’ imprisonment for stealing a game, worth 3s. 3d., from an Oxford Street store, Mr. Geoffrey Raphael, the Marylebone magistrate, told her she was absolutely a […]
Birmingham Daily Post – Tuesday 22 January 1889 WEST BROMWICH. CHARGES OF THEFT.—Yesterday, at the Police Court, John Rhodes (45), of no fixed abode, was charged with stealing 3lb. of pork of the value of 1s. 6d., the property of Thomas Davis, of Great Bridge Street, West Bromwich. On Saturday […]
Northern Daily Telegraph – Saturday 17 December 1898 PLUM PUDDING RECIPES. One and a half pound of raisins, one and three-quarters of a pound of currants, one pound of figs, two pounds of moist sugar, two pounds of bread crumbs, sixteen eggs, two pounds of finely chopped suet, six ounces […]
Norfolk Chronicle, Saturday, 3 August 1811 Singular Genealogy. — All the persons named in the following genealogy were living at Faversham, in Kent, 1760, excepting only the former wife of the elder Cashick. Old Harwood had two daughters by his first wife, of which the eldest was married to John Cashick, […]
WINSLOW PETTY SESSIONS, DECEMBER 14 1892 Before Geo. R. Greaves, Esq., and the Hon. C. Fremantle. STRAY CATTLE AT LITTLE HORWOOD William King, farmer, was charged with allowing his cows to stray on the highway at Little Horwood on the 19th Nov. P.C. Tredway said shortly after one o’clock in […]
Morning Post – Wednesday 20 December 1905 [Stanley Gardner, a rogue stockbroker, was charged with obtaining money by false pretences in a high-profile fraud case. Victims across the UK lost hundreds of pounds in fake share schemes. #OnThisDay #History #TrueCrime] Stanley Gardner, 35, described as an outside stock and share […]
Middlesex Chronicle – Saturday 20 January 1906 POLICE COURT. Monday. Before: Mr. A. S. Montgomery (chairman), Mr. J. Carver, Mr. M. Davenport, Mr. G. J. Haffenden, Mr. V. Griffiths, Dr. Satchell, Mr. C. J. Cross and Mr. R. Willey. THE INFLUENCE OF DRINK. Winifred Reardon (29), of Notting Hill, was […]
Nottingham Journal – Monday 14 March 1864 SHIRE HALL, NOTTINGHAM. SATURDAY. – (Before Mr. Birkin and Mr. Edge.) DRUNKENNESS. John Tomlinson, charged with drunkenness at Radford, on the 8th inst. Fined 10s.—Enoch Hodgkinson, for a similar offence on Sunday last, at Nuttall. Fined 10s. and costs.—Two men, named Alsopp and […]
The 1887 Board of Trade report revealed that 919 people were killed and 3,590 injured on UK railways. Of these, 121 deaths and 1,297 injuries involved passengers, with only 25 fatalities caused by train collisions; the rest resulted from other incidents, often due to passenger carelessness. Railway workers and contractors […]
October 26, 1898 | ST. JAMES’S GAZETTE THE ANTIQUARIAN ROMANCE. MORE REMARKABLE EVIDENCE. Mr. Lushington sat again specially at Bow-street yesterday for the further hearing of the charges against Herbert Davies, twenty-five, “private surgeon,” of Castlenau-gardens, Barnes, of forging entries in Mangotsfield parish register, tampering with monuments and coffins, forging […]
October 26, 1898 | ST. JAMES’S GAZETTE THE ANTIQUARIAN ROMANCE. MORE REMARKABLE EVIDENCE. Mr. Lushington sat again specially at Bow-street yesterday for the further hearing of the charges against Herbert Davies, twenty-five, “private surgeon,” of Castlenau-gardens, Barnes, of forging entries in Mangotsfield parish register, tampering with monuments and coffins, forging […]
Birkenhead News – Saturday 11 October 1884 RAILWAY ROBBERY Before Mr. Preston, at the Borough Police Court, on Wednesday, four young seamen, named John Mullin, 4, Byrom-street; James Allsop, 140, Beckwith-street; Gardner Carruthers, 280, Conway-street; and William Lewis Seacombe, were charged with stealing a sailor’s white canvas bag from Birkenhead […]
Throughout history, many newspapers have had fleeting existences, often created in response to specific events, movements, or ambitions that were unsustainable in the long term. These rare and short-lived publications offer unique insights into the moments they captured, often serving niche audiences or addressing radical ideas. Their limited runs and […]
Throughout history, many newspapers have had fleeting existences, often created in response to specific events, movements, or ambitions that were unsustainable in the long term. These rare and short-lived publications offer unique insights into the moments they captured, often serving niche audiences or addressing radical ideas. Their limited runs and […]
Thanet Advertiser – Friday 04 April 1947 This is a fascinating newspaper advertisement from 1947 for a service called Rediffusion. Here’s a breakdown: Rediffusion Technology in 1947 What is Rediffusion? Rediffusion was a service that allowed people to listen to crystal-clear radio broadcasts without owning a traditional radio set. Instead […]
Gloucester Journal – Saturday 23 August 1862 FORGERY. Herbert Cresswell, a young man, was charged with obtaining money by means of a forged instrument, on the 31st of March, at Cheltenham. The prisoner pleaded guilty. Mr. Sawyer, who appeared for the prisoner, said he could not struggle against a verdict […]
The Morning Post – Wednesday 31 March 1830 This article describes an event reported in The Morning Post newspaper, dated 31 March 1830. It recounts a shocking and socially disgraceful incident that took place in a crowded marketplace. In summary, the article portrays a deeply degrading episode in which societal […]
“From Quarries to Conservation: Dartmoor’s Granite Industry, Railway, and Transformation” By Ian Waugh, ‘The Princetown Railway’ here Scope and Themes This comprehensive work explores four interrelated themes regarding the Princetown Railway: The Granite Industry and Its Legacy Dartmoor’s granite industry was instrumental in shaping both the moor’s physical landscape and […]
Family notices in old newspapers are important because they provide essential details about individuals, relationships, and communities, offering a rich resource for genealogical research and insights into social history. Here is an example: Gloucester Citizen (Thursday 8th December 1927): BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. Notices of Births, Marriages and Deaths, In […]
The handling of meat in Britain during the 1800s was an area of significant concern due to the lack of comprehensive food safety regulations, leading to widespread public health issues and increasing media coverage of scandals and legal cases. Thame Gazette – Tuesday 17 September 1867 A butcher in Walworth […]
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH KENT RAILWAY. Also on this page: The State of Rail Safety in the UK During the 1850s Importance of Historical News Articles for Historians and Genealogists Free to use British Newspaper Research Service COLLISION OF TRAINS. Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard – Saturday 04 July 1857 […]
Tavistock Gazette – Friday 22 October 1875 Tavistock Football Club. — At a meeting held at the Queen’s Head Hotel, on Monday last, Mr. G. Gibbings in the chair, it was resolved: — That the club be called the “Tavistock Football Club.” That the annual subscription be 3s. That the […]
Tavistock Gazette – Friday 22 October 1875 Tavistock Football Club. — At a meeting held at the Queen’s Head Hotel, on Monday last, Mr. G. Gibbings in the chair, it was resolved: — That the club be called the “Tavistock Football Club.” That the annual subscription be 3s. That the […]
In its era, “The Poor Man’s Guardian” was a defiant voice of the working class, a radical, illegal newspaper that challenged oppressive laws and censorship, pushing for press freedom, workers’ rights, and social reform during a time of political repression and economic inequality. Poor Man’s Guardian – Saturday 26 December […]
In its era, “The Poor Man’s Guardian” was a defiant voice of the working class, a radical, illegal newspaper that challenged oppressive laws and censorship, pushing for press freedom, workers’ rights, and social reform during a time of political repression and economic inequality. Poor Man’s Guardian – Saturday 26 December […]
RIOTS IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE. Illustrated Police News – Saturday 19 November 1887 The article, published in a sensationalist newspaper known for its lurid coverage of crime and public disturbances, would have contributed to shaping public perception of the events. The detailed descriptions of the clashes and the injuries sustained would […]
RIOTS IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE. Illustrated Police News – Saturday 19 November 1887 Sunday’s proposed demonstration in Trafalgar Square to demand the release of Mr. O’Brien and other Irish patriots ended in a most futile manner. It is absurd to suppose that an unorganised body of men like the demonstrators proved […]
Western Times – Friday 06 December 1940 This news article provides an interesting snapshot of wartime Britain, revealing how the upheaval of daily life affected young people. It offers a glimpse into the juvenile justice system of the time and the community’s efforts to address and correct youth crime amid the broader […]
Western Times – Friday 06 December 1940 This news article provides an interesting snapshot of wartime Britain, revealing how the upheaval of daily life affected young people. It offers a glimpse into the juvenile justice system of the time and the community’s efforts to address and correct youth crime amid the broader […]
Hull Packet – Tuesday 01 February 1803 This newspaper article from 1803 describes a violent murder that took place at Greenwich Hospital, a historical institution that housed retired sailors or “pensioners.” The story is notable for the brutal and premeditated nature of the crime, as well as the murderer’s complete lack of […]
Case for Reopening the Princetown Railway Page Index Introduction Historical and Cultural Significance Boost to Local and Tourism Economy Environmentally Friendly Access to Dartmoor Revitalisng Public Interest in Heritage Railways Scenic and Unique Travel Experience Potential for Seasonal and Special Event Services Leveraging Existing Infrastructure and Track bed Preservation Proposed […]
Dealing with a Potential Persistent Impersonator Jump to: Introduction | Initial Contact | Intensifying Messages | Raising Concerns with Family | Protecting My Privacy | Reflection on Internet Safety Introduction Over the years, several people have falsely claimed to be related to me. One particularly persistent individual introduced himself as […]
My Journey as the Family’s “Black Sheep” Jump to: Introduction | Early Years | Challenges and Adversity | Mistakes and Reflection | Becoming the Scapegoat | Growing Self-Reliance | Positives of Being the “Black Sheep” Introduction As the “black sheep” of my family, I’ve often felt isolated or misunderstood from […]
A quarter-century of my dedicated research unveils the narrative of one of the most renowned and painstakingly rediscovered incidents in British Victorian history. This story centres on a man whose existence dangled on the precipice—the individual who encountered the gallows not once, not twice, but thrice.This work delves into the […]
As a lifelong supporter of the British Labour Party, I have been there through the highs and lows, unwavering in my dedication. To me, being a true socialist means advocating for a fairer society, where everyone has equal opportunities and access to basic necessities. I have witnessed the Labour Party’s […]
If it happened, it was in the news. 1750 – 1950. My voluntary research service. As an avid enthusiast of British history, my passion for this captivating subject knows no bounds. I’ve immersed myself in its depths, delving into its intricacies and unearthing hidden aspects that have long remained concealed. […]
I was looking for some news reports of my Grandfather and his family the other day. I knew he lived in Newton Abbot in Devon, South West England. He was born in the 1890’s, died in the the 1970’s and spent his life in South Devon. So he was educated […]
Much like today, news media has always demonstrated its sensational side. The Illustrated Police News was a highly popular newspaper especially during the Victorian and Edwardian era, full horror and shock. Here is a classic case from 1909 reporting a murder in North London with sensational images on the front […]
At Shire Hall in Nottingham, crimes were dealt with and recorded in the newspapers along with many names and help for historians years on. This free to use service (covering the period 1750 – 1950) aims to assist individuals interested in their UK family history or British history in general. […]
If you suspect that your ancestor may have been involved in a court case, whether accused of a crime, deported, imprisoned, or acquitted, I can potentially unveil the news as it was reported at that time. Court and police cases are a rich source for names in the newspapers. Along […]
I am slowly but surely digitising my collections of Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and early 20th century personal letters, documents and photographic images acquired over several decades. This process is currently ongoing and will gradually reveal itself here. The collections enables us to look into the lives, loves, ups and downs […]
Since auction websites like eBay entered the online arena the success of moneymaking ventures by some has in a way caused serious social and devastating historic damage. I am referring here to the thousands who have unwittingly taken advantage of these websites by selling off literally tons of “family junk”, […]
Since auction websites like eBay entered the online arena the success of moneymaking ventures by some has in a way caused serious social and devastating historic damage. I am referring here to the thousands who have unwittingly taken advantage of these websites by selling off literally tons of “family junk”, […]
The job of clearing Britain’s cities and towns of unexploded devices after the war has taken many years. Indeed even today we see still hear of exploded bombs more than 70 years on. There have been many, dangerous, weird and wonderful stories of the discovery of such devices –but this […]
Whilst doing more family research I sadly discovered that my great, great grandmother (Emily Cave (nee Windebank)) committed suicide in 1892 after drinking the contents of a bottle of Carbolic Acid. I found out about this after conducting routine research through the London newspapers. London Evening Standard – Wednesday 14 […]
Whilst doing more family research I sadly discovered that my great, great grandmother (Emily Cave (nee Windebank)) committed suicide in 1892 after drinking the contents of a bottle of Carbolic Acid. I found out about this after conducting routine research through the London newspapers. London Evening Standard – Wednesday 14 […]
The railway station at Princetown was the scene of an unusual event in September 1895 when a released convict went back to Dartmoor Prison as he felt uncomfortable in the clothes he was wearing. Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 19 September 1895: A Fastidious Convict. An amusing scene was witnessed […]
2nd November 1936 – regular television broadcasting commenced from make-do BBC studios at Alexander Palace in North London. The corporation had already tackled the question of whether to employ the mechanical system invented by John Logie Baird or the fast progressing EMI electronic system. By 1936 it became clear that […]
The Exeter Bank had been established in 1769 along with England’s first hotel, The Royal Clarence, destroyed by fire in 2016. Mr. Short was in Oxford in July 1776 and placed this advertisement in the Oxford Journal on Saturday 6th July: Oxford, 5th July. 1776. LOST, last Night, – An […]
Food safety, the manner it was manufactured, stored, prepared and sold was never out of the news. Despite crude guidelines and basic regulations enforced in law, purveyors of every range of food were endlessly reported with crimes and methods to turn the strongest stomachs. The law finally caught up with […]
A solicitors clerk working Bethnal Green is at the Old Bailey charged with deception, forgery, theft and embezzlement, 30th April 1894. Here’s the report from the London Evening Standard – Tuesday 01 May 1894. “John Salmon, a 31, clerk, pleaded guilty to stealing three cheques, of the value of £448, […]
The Nottingham Review and General Advertiser for the Midland Counties – Friday 04 June 1830 reports the extraordinary story of a recently deceased 100 year old man with a long and dubious past. “The veteran rogue. On Friday the 21st ult., John Shepherd was interred in Ripponden churchyard. The deceased […]
John Witton was transported in 1834 for stealing from a grocer. John asked if the Court could do him a favour. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal – Friday 10 January 1834 reports the following: John Witton, of Wisbech St. Peter, was convicted of stealing a cheese, on the 1st November last, […]
A lamplighter in Whitechapel, going about his business in the early hours of Wednesday the 14th of July 1869, was set upon and assaulted. Various excuses were made when the case went to court as was reported in the Clerkenwell News: “At Worship-street, yesterday, James Hart, 23, described as a […]
The expense of operating a horse driven tramway system in London was exposed in the Worcester Journal on Saturday 31 July 1886: “The cost of horsing the tramway cars in London forms, as maybe imagined, a heavy item in the accounts of several companies. The largest of these is the […]
A moment in wartime. Here is an AP WirePhoto dated May 15 1941 taken in Malta during the war: “They live on a “Fortress Island”. These children and the 69 year old woman with them are residents of Malta, British Island Fortress in the Mediterranean. British sources say they’re looking […]
In 1842 a man called H. Wright Esquire received a letter from his proud and excited son, Frank Edward Wright: “Southampton September 17, 1842 My dear Papa, We went to London in the holidays with mamma and stayed there three weeks. I hope you are quite well and I send […]
What became the amazing Princetown Railway over Dartmoor from Yelverton to Princetown was fraught with danger during it’s creation. During it’s building phase there were news stories of danger caused by the weather or those constructing it. Exeter and Plymouth Gazette – Friday 29 December 1882 reported an event of […]
The Times of Malta are reporting today the dreadful case of about 100 children who died during a stampede at a Valletta convent during carnival 192 years ago (here). I have found two articles from 1823 describing the scene (click the images to read the article, then click again to […]
Todd Ragsdale Scudder was a friend of mine during his and my time in Malta. He was from Virginia (USA) and was supposed to be a student in Malta – he and I used to hang around in Gzira, Sliema and Paceville. Todd was a person with enormous enthusiasm for […]
The horrors and cruelty that prisoners of war endured at the original Princetown Prison on Dartmoor are recalled in this brief item in the Western Times – Saturday 30 August 1845. “Dartmoor – It is reported that the Prince-town Prison – those fearful dungeons which proved the grave of so […]
British Newspapers from centuries ago were full of reports, much the same today, of people disappearing or dying in suspicious in unresolved circumstances. The police on the river Thames during Victorian Times were kept particularly busy. 21 year old James Rossiter, was living with his mother in the overcrowded and […]
I am lucky in many ways and happily have travelled and flown a lot from countries across Europe to nations throughout Africa. I have seen and experienced so much as a result. Funny how things come back to haunt. I was trying to remember this morning the worse flights I […]
This is a very long story about a valuable 1867 silver commemoration trowel used in the laying of the foundation stone of Torquay’s Haldon Pier, that was later used to weed a driveway, lost during late 1800’s, then found in the rubbish on Rainham Marshes by an Edwardian Chatham bricklayer, acquired […]
On 25 September 1907 two police inspectors were witness to statements and certain letters at the offices of Buck & Dicksons, 17, Winckley Street, Preston, Lancashire, England. These were written by George Douglas Clementson aged 27 of Ashton Under Lyne to Ernest Leslie Bassett Dixon aged 22 of Bushell Place, […]
One of the many thrills of living the life of a Victorian must have been the development of the ability to record sound and therefore to mechanically (later electronically) reproduce the human voice. Several ideas and inventions were put forward including this one from Charles Sumner Tainter in 1888 reported […]
Gang trouble, particularly in Birmingham, started to appear in the newspapers in the early 1870s with reports of “slogging gangs” causing huge disturbances with considerable violence. The media were describing them as large bodies of “roughs”. In 1872 about 400 of them made their appearance “to great consternation of the […]
The late 1800’s and Edwardian era were a time of great technological adventure and ‘world firsts’. Here The Hartlepool Mail are reporting that the forthcoming eclipse will be filmed using a process of moving pictures. Eclipse and Cinematograph For the first time in the history of eclipse observation a cinematograph […]
In a divorce report in 1905 Edwardian readers discover that Christopher Gibson was seriously let down by his trusted friend. Victorian and Edwardian Newspapers were full of contemporary scandal and stories of this nature. They are a great resource for historians looking for names of relatives mentioned in the news. […]
My role at DevonAir Radio was of no great consequence. I was, between 1980 and 1987, a loyal member of the station team – hard-working and grossly underpaid. We had built a radio station with local news and information in it’s core – it’s very foundation. My time at this […]
The Morning Post on Tuesday, the 7th of October 1845 was reporting a significant number of accidents involving children. It highlighted only too well the plight of youngsters during this era and how their lives were quite frequently endangered by the lack of care, attention or action from adults around […]
Richard Bettison was my great great grandfather. He was born and brought up just outside Liskeard in Cornwall where, apart from a brief spell in the 1870s when he was in the Durham area, he spent the best part of his long life. My great grandmother Lily was his daughter […]
Richard Bettison was my great great grandfather. He was born and brought up just outside Liskeard in Cornwall where, apart from a brief spell in the 1870s when he was in the Durham area, he spent the best part of his long life. My great grandmother Lily was his daughter […]
With only months to go before the start of hostilities, life in Britain is very much business as usual on the 8th of June 1914. There is concern about events in Albania, continuing frustration with the Suffragettes, ongoing industrial infighting but no hint to the catastrophic events in the coming […]
I am somewhat confused with the British Broadcasting Corporation. When is it okay to use colourful language? At one end of the BBC the use of any words very slightly offensive or indeed with sexual references are banned before 2100 hours on television. Meanwhile at the other end of the […]
Here is a case I have been researching for a great many years. The appalling although not uncommon activity of women who would ‘look after’ children for a fee (and we are not talking about nannies here). Now a lot of archive (including news reports) relating to the case of […]
In 1885 a man awaited execution at Exeter, Devon, for the murder of his employer, Emma Keyse. The accused was small-time thief, bragger and womaniser John Lee. The case was shocking enough and received fairly extensive news coverage. But the man at the gallows (which he attended three times and […]
Reynolds’s Newspaper – Sunday 01 May 1859 – is convinced it is on to a strange occurrence that has again come to light. Victorian Newspapers thrilled audiences with tales of mystery and darkness. In this particular case the newspaper is urging the police to take seriously a confession and information […]
Born in the late 1700s in Trinidad, Peregrine Clarke came to England as a servant. Described in the media as a “handsome young man of colour” he seemed to be quite a charmer. He did have quite an extraordinary life. His time in England ended suddenly when found guilty of […]
The British media, particularly during the height of the Victorian and into the Edwardian eras, was very keen to publish and shed light on the state of pauperism. Looking through and comparing newspapers of the same dates, some publications released figures and data that varied considerably depending on the newspaper […]
Retailers in Victorian Britain, much like today, faced a range of rules and regulations. Many shopkeepers were good honest people and an equal amount were to say the least somewhat dubious not only with the content of the products they would sell but also the dubious manner in which the […]
I think I have a fairly strong constitution. But there is one aspect of television presentation that really does make me heave. I cannot stand watching people eating or tasting food on camera. To be honest it makes me feel so uncomfortable and even a little nauseous. I quite enjoy […]
As I previously reported, highway robbery was very much a part of life. Today we refer to it as “street crime”. When there was no street lighting and roads, alleys and lanes around our country were very poorly lit, these were places to steer clear of after dusk particularly. The […]
London football giants, West Ham United, faced a strong and equally well supported Plymouth Argyll in February 1923. It was a much anticipated game in which one of these teams lost by two goals. So, who were the real victors and who were crying in their beer? Here is the […]
With the First World War showing no signs of ending, life on the home front is further exasperated with shocking domestic stories that continued to fill the pages of our national press. In Aberdeen in mid 1916 a labourer called George Simpson is brought before the courts after beating his […]
British Newspapers quite frequently covered stories from the former British Colonies. Much of the reports, like the domestic ones, were fairly routine yet quite revealing for today’s researchers. It wasn’t unusual to read court reports, criminal activity and other news from the former British Empire. In 1826 this story from […]
Resolving Victorian murder cases were notorious and haphazard. Detectives and experts were left with little in comparison to available knowledge and technologies today. There was no proof by fingerprinting and it was very difficult to tell the difference between human and mammal blood. Of course there was no DNA. Looking […]
Meanwhile it’s another day in Clerkenwell County Court for Judge Edge. The Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser (Wednesday 30 November 1898) report an amusing interlude: The Judge and the Carpenter. Amusing Interlude at a County Court. Before Judge Edge, at Clerkenwell County Court, a man named Matthews appeared on a […]
I have been researching and building my family tree for about 25 years. In that time I have have discovered that most of my blood (and first generation married) relatives were generally regular working and lower class folk. Some of them aspired to really get on in life, many remained […]
Over the last 20 or 25 years I have been involved in a significant amount of historic research and this has led me to look into the lives of a great many people long since dead. As a result I have amassed a sizable collection of ephemera, including personal letters, […]
In the course of doing historic research I generally find I can usually detach myself even from the most appalling events and situations frequently reported over the centuries. It’s only when a direct blood relative suddenly appears in the Victorian news that I get a feeling of genuine sadness. This […]
Raymond Mitchell Heaselden (1897-1997), was the son of an engine fitter, Walter Heaselden(1865-1954) and Mary Ellen MITCHELL (1868-1965). Raymond, an only child, was born on 19 May 1897 in Dartford, Kent. In 1901 he was living in Crayford, Kent. By 1956 he had moved to in Worthing, Sussex. He died […]
Inquisitions, although a bit gruesome and quite depressing at times, were widely reported in local and national newspapers much as they are today. These reports give us an insight into an aspect of life and the manner in which these proceedings were conducted. The example here is taken from February […]
Do you keep your Christmas or birthday cards? Well, if you don’t maybe we should all keep them, just in case! In 1930 The Hull Daily Mail reported a person with relatives in England and America who had died in the United States intestate with a sizeable amount of money […]
My three times great grandmother really did not have much of an existence although she survived into her sixties. She spent all her life, like so many Victorian women at the bottom of the social and economic scale, cleaning other people’s houses and clothes. In death her body was used […]
Robberies on tracks and roads were commonplace as we well know. Indeed after dusk the highways were places to avoid where possible. Newspapers were full of stories of highway robberies and many generations later films and television dramas immortalised these violent criminals to almost heroic proportions. In 1836 two children […]
Friends of mine who smoke/smoked were always careful in my company and for that I (as a non-smoker) am/was very always grateful. They care and they are friends of mine. In the workplace it was a different story, many who were smokers refused to refrain from smoking, especially in closed […]
Some readers may find the following editorial and historic news report disturbing. The acquisition of dead bodies in modern times might well sound quite revolting and hugely inappropriate. But up until the first half of the 19th century, such was the demand by Physicians and doctors to teach students of […]
At Llangollen Petty Sessions in late August 1893 local life was being dealt with. Although these really were ‘petty’ sessions they of course are very common throughout the entire British Isles. They do provide the historian with more names and dates. The reporting of localised parish news and what was […]
A phrase we frequently come across is ‘uttering’. Many were found guilty of uttering a forged note or even a coin. Forgery per se is not a crime. The crime is uttering, i.e. using as genuine a fabricated writing falsely intended to pass as genuine the writing of another person. […]
In January 1819 The Morning Post in London reported a particularly unpleasant assault that occurred in Hatton Garden. A chicken seller from *Saffron Hill and an accomplice were found accused of biting the nose off Matthew Donovan (* “In 1850 it was described as a squalid neighbourhood, the home of […]
In May or June 1899 this man appeared on the Dorchester Prison Admission records. He is the only entry in the book who is unidentified. Judging by his dress and appearance he came from a fairly well-to-do background – as such he stands out somewhat compared with the rest of […]
By the 1880’s photographic technology was being used in some prisons and then added to criminal admission records. Here, two brothers from Bridport in Dorset are imprisoned for stealing a rabbit in 1887. They are reported in the local press, jailed and photographed for posterity. Both John and Ben Down […]
From the very moment motor vehicles hit the roads of Great Britain the media seem to be hugely cautious of this new invention. The slightest accident would be duly reported and hugely illustrated where possible. Many of its readers were highly sceptical of these dangerous machines on the mainly untreated […]
Its easy to assume that the Workhouse was an ‘essential’ relic of the Victorian era. We all have images in our minds of Charles Dickens and poor old Oliver Twist. Most of us who have been conducting our family history will have discovered that as least one or even more […]
August 1st 1914 The Hull Daily Mail is reporting the crushing drama now facing all Europe. “A Reuters Rome message stated this morning: The Messagro semi-officially announces that the German Ambassador last night informed the Italian government that Germany had sent an ultimatum to France and Russia – Press Association. […]
The lives of Victorians were, it seems, constantly at risk due to the lack of many safety regulations and health rules that we take for granted today. Even behind closed doors in the relative safety of home was considerable danger, either from the lack of knowledge in regards to food […]
On July 26th 1913 Bentfield Charles Hucks (25 October 1884 – 7 November 1918) was promoting his aviation exhibition in the Cheltenham and Gloucester area. Bachelor Hucks was an aviation pioneer in the early 20th century. As well as test flying numerous aircraft types, he was the first Briton to […]
News coverage of events during the First World War in a way marked a new beginning of the manner in which correspondents cover conflict. The journalists working 100 years ago have left behind a unique and outstanding record of this dramatic moment in history. In the coming years you will […]
News coverage of events during the First World War in a way marked a new beginning of the manner in which correspondents cover conflict. The journalists working 100 years ago have left behind a unique and outstanding record of this dramatic moment in history. In the coming years you will […]
The story of the First World War is the tale of political conflict and above all the running and full commentary of bravery the likes of which will remain indelible for ever. Thomas Neely was born in Liverpool in 1898 and died as a dramatically early age at Flanders on […]
Marshall James Winchester was born 29th November 1898 at Ashburnham, Sussex, England. His Dad, George, was a farmer and his Mum, Alice Ann (known as Ann) used do what she could to help out on the farm according to the 1911 census. Marshall was killed on board *Black Prince on […]
The Edwardian era that characteristically did not begin and end with the reign of Edward VII is generally regarded as Britain’s calm before the storm. I would say that this much lauded brief spell began a few years before Queen Victoria’s death and ended abruptly at the outbreak of the […]
The Edwardian era that characteristically did not begin and end with the reign of Edward VII is generally regarded as Britain’s calm before the storm. I would say that this much lauded brief spell began a few years before Queen Victoria’s death and ended abruptly at the outbreak of the First […]
William Braithwaite and his brother Clarence were on board HMS Bulwark when a devastating internal explosion killed 736 men. Williams survived but his brother Clarence was killed in the explosion. The Braithwaite family had already featured in the news locally and now they were publishing a letter that William Braithwaite […]
This is one of those stories that made me chuckle. It is regarding a balloon flight over Paris in October 1878 when a lady, one of the passengers, in “an interesting condition”, gave birth and then tipped a doctor who just happened to be on board! Here is the editorial […]
Here is a plan. All clothes retailers and importers across the EU pay a three per cent levy at the point of import on all clothing sourced from Asian and third world countries. Importers and retailers will be required NOT to pass on this extra charge to the consumer. The […]
I’ve been working on my genealogy for about twenty years now. When I started out there was no internet and therefore no online data, so the only way to build verified information was to visit record offices and libraries. As my mobility became worse by lucky coincidence internet access improved […]
Since auction websites like eBay entered the online arena the success of moneymaking ventures by some has in a way caused serious social and devastating historic damage. I am referring here to the thousands who have unwittingly taken advantage of these websites by selling off literally tons of “family junk”, […]
In the course of doing historic research I generally find I can usually detach myself even from the most appalling events and situations frequently reported over the centuries. It’s only when a direct blood relative suddenly appears in the Victorian news that I get a feeling of genuine sadness. This […]
In the course of conducting my research over many years I have come across some most extraordinary items of news. But what we might find odd and strange today was in a way perfectly normal a couple of hundred years ago. One such example was the rather horrific although seemingly […]
Now that the body found under a car-park in Leicester has definitely been identified, the fact that the circumstances surrounding the last moments of life have been ascertained, that Shakespeare, his fellow writers and certain historians should posthumously eat humble pie, there is a discussion underway regarding a potential state […]
Morning Post – Wednesday 28 December 1831 The case of the John Chapman an occasional body-snatcher. Marlborough Street – Carriage robbery. “John Chapman, a fellow well-dressed, who was a few months since convicted at Kingston for body-snatching, was yesterday placed at the bar for re-examination before J.E. Convant Esq., charged […]
Last May I found a little piece about a highly confused family history situation that arose in Norfolk in 1811 (here). Just as I thought the genteel and rather pleasant pastime of genealogy could not possibly get any more confusing I have today come across another mind-bending situation published in […]
Is ‘radio local’ still the audience grabber when it comes to bad weather, emergencies and localised disaster? I have been following a debate online and a user had this to say: “Weather? I can look at my iPhone home screen or check the web. Or, given the detail you often […]
As winter approaches we should all take care of our health. Thank goodness ‘The Hereford Journal‘ – Wednesday 17 October 1792 was there with a few timely tips to get us through the rough weather ahead. For the Cure of a Fever, which at this time is very prevalent. Take […]
I for one am extremely proud of my country. A lot is published today regarding the closing of the single greatest event this nation has experienced in modern history. As an overall happening London 2012 showcased the capital and nation in way that was calm, cool and British. It made […]
12 months ago to the day the immediate world around here turned into a war zone. And that’s the truth. War had broken out in South London. I was way too concerned with my personal safety to post anything online on the 8th August. As the day progressed the unrest […]
Friday 24th July 1908 and crowds of Edwardian Devonians welcome home their Olympic sporting hero Fred Holman when he arrived by train at Queen Street (Central) Railway Station. Dawlish man Fred had victoriously won the 200 metres Breast Stroke Contest in London. Hundreds were ready to carry Fred shoulder high […]
This is Miss Queenie F. Newall, of Cheltenham, who won the Ladies’ National Archery Contest at the 1908 Olympic Games at White City in London. The contest for the National Round, 48 arrows at 60 yards, and 24 at 50. The result was: Miss Newall 132 hits, 688 points, gold […]
Up until very recently the fact that listeners and viewers in Malta have, since the 1930’s, been capable of receiving radio and television transmissions from Italy has been a ‘technical coincidence’. Radio transmission from Italy before the war was in fact ‘boosted’ to enable Italian broadcasts to be heard in […]
This post was written before the last phase and completion of building works in Valletta. Oh! How an image can create such controversy. There’s a really interesting ‘group’ on Facebook called ‘Malta Once Upon A Time‘. I highly recommend it. From my point of view as a part-time amateur historian […]
London Underground is to go entirely commercial, meaning all stations are to be renamed and linked to branding. London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson, says he had the idea in bed in the middle of the night on Tuesday, phoned his commercial director at 3.30am with the plan. It’s hoped the new […]
Boots Dispensing Medication – Serious Failures Written: June 2012 Some outlets and general businesses here in the United Kingdom over the years have formed part of the retail fabric of our high streets. One of these is Boots the Chemist. The long established and until recently much respected health and […]