Newspapers on Microfilm at The Hive Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service Contents Newspapers on Microfilm at The Hive ........................................................ 0 History of Worcestershire Newspapers .................................................... 3 Information Provided by Worcestershire Newspapers ............................. 4 Limitations of Worcestershire Newspapers ........................................... 4 Ways of Using Worcestershire Newspapers ......................................... 5 Location of Worcestershire Newspapers ................................................. 6 Using the Handlist ................................................................................... 6 Alcester Chronicle ................................................................................... 7 Notes .................................................................................................... 9 Berrows Worcester Journal (Includes: The Worcester Postman, Worcester Post, Weekly Worcester Journal and Worcester Journal) ..... 10 Notes .................................................................................................. 22 Brierley Hill, Stourbridge, Dudley and Kidderminster Advertiser ............ 23 Notes .................................................................................................. 23 Bromsgrove Messenger......................................................................... 24 Notes .................................................................................................. 28 Evesham Journal ................................................................................... 29 Notes .................................................................................................. 31 Kidderminster Shuttle ............................................................................ 32 Notes .................................................................................................. 38 Page | 1 www.explorethepast.co.uk Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service Malvern Gazette .................................................................................... 39 Notes .................................................................................................. 39 Worcester Chronicle .............................................................................. 40 Notes .................................................................................................. 41 Worcester Daily Times........................................................................... 42 Notes .................................................................................................. 43 Worcester Evening News ...................................................................... 44 Notes .................................................................................................. 69 Worcester Herald ................................................................................... 70 Notes .................................................................................................. 74 Worcester Standard ............................................................................... 75 Worcestershire Advertiser ..................................................................... 77 Notes .................................................................................................. 78 Worcestershire Guardian ....................................................................... 79 Notes .................................................................................................. 79 Contact Us ............................................................................................. 80 Page | 2 www.explorethepast.co.uk Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service History of Worcestershire Newspapers Newspapers are a marvellous source of information but what they contain varies much according to period. There were restrictions on the press until the aftermath of the ‘Glorious Revolution’ in 1688. After this, newspaper production began in force, with London taking the lead, but the provinces following closely behind. The Berrow's Worcester Journal, the newspaper with the longest continuous history of publication in England, began regularly in 1709. There are even hints that it began earlier in 1690. Stephen Bryan was the proprietor and its first name was The Worcester Postman. It then became Worcester Post/Journal in 1722, the Weekly Worcester Journal in 1730, and Berrow's Worcester Journal in 1753 to distinguish it from another Worcester Journal. In 1937 it merged with The Worcestershire Advertiser to produce the Worcester Evening News & Times. Page | 3 www.explorethepast.co.uk Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service Information Provided by Worcestershire Newspapers Newspapers were a way for people to find out about scandal, crime and social events and what was happening nationally. As literacy levels increased, so did the demand and local tradesmen cashed in by advertising profusely. Local newspapers often take a standard format: • National and county news • Advertisements • Court reports • Local events and family announcements Limitations of Worcestershire Newspapers The series of newspapers on microfilm is by no means a complete one; there are many gaps. Also, due to the age of some of the material, there is often damage and degradation. The print is also often very small. Newspapers, as today, are written with the bias of the reporter, so any information gleaned should be taken with this in mind. Be careful to distinguish facts from opinions. Page | 4 www.explorethepast.co.uk Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service Ways of Using Worcestershire Newspapers Newspapers can be used to find out about: • Births, marriages and deaths and the arrangements surrounding these. • Local reactions to national events. • Local events, especially scandalous ones. • The lives of important local people, especially through obituaries. • The amount and type of crime in the area and the associated punishments. • What businesses were in the area? • What products were available for purchase? Page | 5 www.explorethepast.co.uk Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service Location of Worcestershire Newspapers The newspapers held at the Worcestershire Archives and Archaeology Service tend to focus on Worcester City. Local libraries often hold the papers for their locality. The newspapers are usually on microfilm rather than in hard-copy form. Using the Handlist This handlist is arranged in alphabetical order of newspapers. After each list there may be some specific notes that relate to that newspaper, for example, any name changes. Further Information • Chapman, C., ‘Using Newspapers and Periodicals'. • Gibson, J., 'Local Newspapers 1750-1920. • Gwilliam, H.W., ‘A survey of Worcestershire newspapers’, 1982 • McLaughlin, E. ‘Family history from newspapers’, 2000. • Murphy, M., ‘Newspapers and local history’ Page | 6 www.explorethepast.co.uk Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service Alcester Chronicle Start date End date Film no. 7 Jan 1888 21 Dec 1889 1 4 Jan 1890 2 Jul 1892 2 9 Jul 1892 2 Mar 1895 3 9 Mar 1895 27 Nov 1897 4 4 Dec 1897 7 Jul 1900 5 14 Jul 1900 9 Mar 1901 6 16 Mar 1901 31 Oct 1903 7 7 Nov 1903 16 Jun 1906 8 23 Jun 1906 28 Dec 1907 9 4 Jan 1908 11 Dec 1909 10 11 Dec 1909 16 Mar 1912 11 23 Mar 1912 10 Oct 1914 12 17 Oct 1914 29 Sep 1917 13 6 Oct 1917 22 Jan 1921 14 29 Jan 1921 7 Apr 1923 15 14 Apr 1923 25 Apr 1925 16 2 May 1925 30 Apr 1927 17 7 May 1927 31 Dec 1927 18 7 Jan 1928 29 May 1928 19 2 June 1928 15 Feb 1930 20 22 Feb 1930 5 Dec 1931 21 12 Dec 1931 7 Oct 1933 22 14 Oct 1933 4 May 1935 23 11 May 1935 26 Dec 1936 24 2 Jan 1937 27 Aug 1938 25 2 Jan 1937 27 Aug 1938 25 3 Sep 1938 23 Mar 1940 26 Alcester Chronicle Start date End date Film no. 30 Mar 1940 22 Aug 1942 27 29 Aug 1942 14 Mar 1945 28 31 Mar 1945 9 Aug 1947 29 16 Aug 1947 26 Nov 1949 30 3 Dec 1949 1 Mar 1952 31 8 Mar 1952 6 Aug 1954 32 13 Aug 1954 17 Aug 1956 33 24 Aug 1956 2 May 1958 34 9 May 1958 2 Oct 1959 35 9 Oct 1959 10 Feb 1961 36 17 Feb 1961 1 Jun 1962 37 8 Jun 1962 6 Sep 1963 38 13 Sep 1963 25 Sep 1964 39 2 Oct 1964 13 Aug 1965 40 20 Aug 1965 10 Jun 1966 41 17 Jun 1966 31 Mar 1967 42 7 Apr 1967 29 Dec 1967 43 5 Jan 1968 29 Nov 1968 44 6 Dec 1968 8 Aug 1969 45 15 Aug 1969 29 May 1970 46 5 Jun 1970 19 Mar 1971 47 26 Mar 1971 10 Dec 1971 48 10 Dec 1971 1 Sep 1972 49 8 Sep 1972 23 Mar 1973 50 30 Mar 1973 21 Sep 1973 51 28 Sep 1973 12 Apr 1974 52 19 Apr 1974 1 Nov 1974 53 8 Nov 1974 9 May 1975 54 Page | 8 www.explorethepast.co.uk Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service Alcester Chronicle Start date End date Film no. 16 May 1975 2 Jan 1976 55 9 Jan 1975 3 Sep 1976 56 10 Sep 1976 29 Apr 1977 57 6 May 1977 16 Dec 1977 58 23 Dec 1977 21 Jul 1978 59 28 Jul 1978 9 Mar 1979 60 16 Mar 1979 28 Sep 1979 61 5 Oct 1979 20 Jun 1980 62 27 Jun 1980 3 Apr 1981 63 10 Apr 1981 25 Dec 1981 64 Notes The Alcester Chronicle was started in 1864. It was later incorporated with the Redditch Indicator. Copies of the newspaper are also held by the British Library Newspaper Library, Redditch Library and Warwickshire County Record Office. Page | 9 www.explorethepast.co.uk Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service Berrows Worcester Journal (Includes: The Worcester Postman, Worcester Post, Weekly Worcester Journal and Worcester Journal) This newspaper has had many different titles over the years The Worcester Postman from 1709, Worcester Post from 1722, Weekly Worcester