You can now access electronic legal deposit journal issues, journal articles and books catalogued before October 2023 using the PCs in our Reading Rooms. Find out more about what content is available and how to access it here: link.bl.uk/9kt

Today's #MastheadMonday is The Standard of Freedom (1848-51). It was published by John Cassell as a family newspaper aimed at those with a reformist mindset, advocating 'Political, Commercial & Religious Freedom'. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/stand...

Today’s #MastheadMonday offering, Bell’s Penny Dispatch (1841-1842), could not settle on a title or a masthead for any length of time. It was packed with sensational news and serialised fiction. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view on the BNA: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/bells...

Following on from last week, today’s #MastheadMonday is the New Court Gazette (1840-46), a society paper: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/new-c... It was founded after the close of the Court Gazette (1838-40; 1841) with the same publisher & many shared contributors. 1/2

A wonderful day visiting the National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, and all the incredible people who help to process and look after the thousands of newspapers that arrive at the Library every year. @britishlibrary.bsky.social #nationalnewspaperbuilding #nationalnewspapercollection

Up for a two day visit to Boston Spa to talk and see all things newspaper. Go to check into our hotel in York and find we’re opposite the old Yorkshire Herald building.

Today's #MastheadMonday is the Court Gazette (1838-40; 1841): a society newspaper that became embroiled in the disputed world of C19th horticulture. Plagued by injunctions & bankruptcy, it eventually had its title stolen by a rival. It’s free-to-view www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/court...

The City of London Trade Protection Circular (1848-49) is today's #MastheadMonday. A specialist newspaper, it acted as an early credit-check and information sharing tool. It was published for much longer as a private circular. It’s free-to-view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/city-...

It's #MastheadMonday again, & today we're featuring The Bee-Hive (1861-1878), an important trades-union publication. It fought for improved workers rights, but became embroiled in the fractious politics of the trades-union movement. Free to view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/beehive

To celebrate the BNA reaching 100 million pages, my colleague Claire O'Halloran has written a blog sharing some of our highlights. A huge achievement-well done to everyone involved at @britishlibrary.bsky.social & @findmypast.bsky.social Here’s to the next 100 million! www.bl.uk/stories/blog...

Today the British Newspaer Archive reached 100 million pages! What an epic achievement! So many interesting pages to explore. And we’re not stopping there the BL & FMP will continue to digitise, so here’s to the next 100 million! blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2026/02/16/c...

#MastheadMonday is back with the Illustrated London Life, which lasted only 23 issues (Apr-Aug 1843). It was 1 of many attempts to capitalise on the success of the Illustrated London News (1842-2003). Digitised by the British Library & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/illus...

Apply for our PhD placement scheme to get involved in extraordinary research at the Library. There are eight available placements exploring a variety of themes including war poetry, 21st-century digital tools, illustrated newspapers and decarbonisation. Find out more: link.bl.uk/PhDPlacements

The British Library’s PhD placement scheme for 26/27 is now open. My team are offering an exciting placement aiming to raise the profile of our illustrated newspaper collection: www.bl.uk/services/res...

It's #MastheadMonday again, & today we feature The Weekly Chronicle (1836-67). A liberal newspaper, in the 1850s it had links to the Temperance Movement, via its publisher William Tweedie. Digitised by the British Library & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/weekl...

Today's #MastheadMonday is the True Sun (1832-37). Founded by Patrick Grant due to his feud with Murdo Young, who he believed had swindled him out of ownership of the Sun newspaper. Charles Dickens was briefly the paper's Parliamentary reporter. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/true-...

Today's #MastheadMonday is The Censor (1846). This pro-Free Trade newspaper, used satire as a tool to bring about reform, particularly focussing its attacks on gambling and gaming-houses. It lasted only 4 issues. Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/censo...

White searching for something else for @liamsims.bsky.social I stumbled across T.B Browne’s Provincial Newspaper Circular. It has the most wonderful illustrations of Browne’s advertising offices. The information these advertising guides & directories provide for newspaper historians is invaluable.

Today’s #MastheadMonday offering is the Town & Country Daily Newspaper (1873). It ran from July-Sept, before merging into the Sun (1792-1871; 1873-76), which itself had newly emerged from a merger with the Central Press (1861-1871). Free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/town-...

Today's #MastheadMonday is the British Army Despatch (1848-1856), a newspaper devoted to military news. It had a conservative stance, supporting the Duke of Wellington's military leadership and outlook. Digitised by the BL and free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/briti...

The Radical Act behind your local library: Celebrating 175 years of public libraries blogs.bl.uk/thenewsroom/...

Today's #MastheadMonday is the Hackney & Kingsland Times (1862-63), which began life as the Kingsland Times & General Advertiser (1860-62), & covered local, national & international news. It is another London Local digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/kings...

(If you're a UK based historian, or just History-curious, and don't know about the IHR, you are missing a treat). Over 50 fortnightly seminars (most also available online) during the academic year, and much more. Visit the Institute and its library if you're in London. And it's free. 2/2

Pierce Egan's Life in London & Sporting Guide (1824-27) is today's #MastheadMonday. Egan, who was publisher, editor & proprietor was an established journalist & sports writer, who wrote particularly about boxing. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/pierc...

2 hours to check in for a for a flight with #americanairlines at O’Hare. Booked via #britishairways but that just means the online and kiosk check in doesn’t work and then you’re out into the queue of doom! This is the biggest shambles! @americanair.bsky.social @americanairsupport.bsky.social

Following on from last week’s #MastheadMonday, today we have the Correspondent & Public Cause. This was the 2nd title used by the Public Cause, followed by The Public Cause,or Westminster Reformer, & The Public Cause & General Correspondent. 1/2

It’s #MastheadMonday again. Today we feature the Public Cause (1811-1816), a which had a reformist and often anti-monarchy agenda. At times it expressed support for Napoleon; & regularly reprinted Byron’s poetry. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/publi...

Excited to see my article ‘Esprit de Corps: Regimental Journals and Belonging’ published in JEPS!

It’s #MastheadMonday & today’s title is the Nonconformist Elector (1847). This short-lived newspaper was launched with the sole aim of forwarding the prospects of nonconformist candidates in the 1847 election. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/nonco...

It’s #MastheadMonday again! Today we have the Greenwich Free Press (1855-1865), one of the London Locals we digitised as part of @BL_MadeDigital. It is packed full of great local stories, as well as national and international news. Free to view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/borou...

Today’s #MastheadMonday is the short-lived Aurora Borealis (1821). London based, it devoted lots of space to Scottish news, which proved unpopular with its readers. It merged with the Observer of the Times in 1822. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/auror...

You Got Honed: Corruption, sham trials, and satire – step inside the world of 19th century satirist William Hone www.tiktok.com/@britishlibr... Had a lot of fun providing inspiration, background info and collections items for the Young Creator's Lab #britishlibrary #youngcreatorslab #youngcreators

Had a great time talking to @michaelsavage.bsky.social about the Belfast News Letter. It’s interesting to think what such a long running newspaper can tell us about continuity & change in politics, in society & in the newspaper industry.

Calling all creators! Join us this Friday 30 May for Young Creators Lab: Connect & Create – an evening of talks, creative networking, workshops, and more 🎤✨ With Yomi Adegoke, Sophia Smith Galer, Keith Afadi & Historical Han. Free tickets: bit.ly/BLEventsYCL

Something different for today’s #MastheadMonday: the evolution of the Masthead of the British Neptune (1803-1823). Here are examples from 1803, 1805, 1810 and 1818, after which the Masthead stayed the same. Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/briti...

Just over 2 weeks left to apply for the fully-funded PhD ‘the Northern Echo and the Politics of Place’ working with me @northumbriauni.bsky.social & @bethgaskell.bsky.social @britishlibrary.bsky.social please share with networks & anyone you think might be interested www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Today's #MastheadMonday is The Evening Star (1842-43), Feargus O'Connor's attempt at a London daily Chartist newspaper, on the back of the success of the weekly Northern Star (1837-52). It lasted less than a year. Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/eveni...

#VEDay celebrations: all cheers and confetti? Not quite... 📰 Take a peek at how newspapers captured the day through the decades – from early subdued affairs to nostalgic street parties: bit.ly/VEDayNewspap... #VEDay80 #VE80

As we mark 80 years since VE Day this week, we’re reflecting on the lives of ordinary people during WWII. Discover their stories through books, letters, and personal papers in our collection: bit.ly/VEDayReading #VE80

Read the new Newsroom blog looking at VE Day commemoration: blogs.bl.uk/thenewsroom/

Happy Easter! It’s #MastheadMonday & here's the masthead for The Colored News, the UK's first colour newspaper. It ran for a couple of months in 1855. Digitised by the British Library and free to view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/color...

Today’s #MastheadMonday is the Pen and Pencil (1855). It aimed to tap into several fashions that coalesced in the mid C19th: illustrated newspapers, cheap family papers, & the Crimean War. It lasted only 8 issues. Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/pen-a...

Today's #MastheadMonday is The City Chronicle (1840-1845). A newspaper aimed at Tea Dealers, Tallow Chandlers, Cheesemongers & Hop Merchants, it is 1 of a number of titles in our collection with a commercial focus. Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/city-...

We're heading north for today's #MastheadMonday, which features The Liverpool Standard (1832-1856). It was a fiercely Conservative newspaper set up by local politicians to promote “Church and State” ideology. Digitised by the BL, it is free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/liver...

A final twist in our recent #MastheadMonday saga. The Age & The Argus competed for four years, but by 1843 both were struggling financially. They agreed a merger to survive, becoming the Age and Argus (1843-45). Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/age-l...

A Monday morning good news story: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Following from last week's #MastheadMonday, today we have The Argus (1839-43). A year after selling his stake in The Age, Westmacott founded The Argus-also ultra-Tory & full of scandal, as a rival to his old paper. Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/argus...

The Age (1825-43) is today's #MastheadMonday. A Tory paper edited by Charles Molloy Westmacott, it was notorious for slanders, blackmail & extortion, & for publishing bawdy material & ads for pornographic books. Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/age-l...

Join us for the Post-1800 and Contemporary British Society & Culture Doctoral Open Day on Friday 14 March: - Discover our rich collections - Connect with our expert curatorial teams - Expand your network with like-minded researchers Book your place: bit.ly/BLPhDOpenDay...

Can’t recommend this excellent article by @c19thnewshound.bsky.social enough! Some much needed analysis of the important roll short-lived newspapers played in the 19th century marketplace.