|
A great source of new and usually very detailed information about your ancestors are historical newspapers. In local newspapers you can find your ancestors' obituaries, marriage announcements, court cases, inquest reports and much more. Some of Cheltenham historical newspapers can be viewed in Cheltenham reference library. Usually they are kept on microfilm so you will need to book a session on a film reader in order to read them.
To find an article relating to your ancestor you need to go through all the issues of the newspapers so it's a good idea to bring with you some dates when it's most likely they could have been mentioned in the newspapers (marriage, death) and concentrate on those dates. Most newspapers were published weekly which makes your job a little bit easier when searching for a particular event.
Following is the list of newspapers from Cheltenham area with dates when they were published to help you locate the right newspapers your ancestors could have been mentioned in.
|
BATH (AND CHELTENHAM) GAZETTE 1812-1844 |
Established 7 October 1812, liberal
“Circulates in Bath and Cheltenham and throughout the manufacturing and agricultural towns of Bradford, Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Frome, Devises, Melksham, Chippenham, Tetbury, Cirencester, Shepton Mallet, Gladstonbury and Wells; thus presenting to solicitors, auctioneers and the public generally one of the most effective mediums for advertising in the West of England.
Advocates the interest of no party, but simply contends for the maintenance in its integrity of the British Protestant constitution in church and state, as by law established. It gives a careful digest of the general news, notices every event having interest in the religious world, excludes to the utmost whatever may minister to a morbid or prurient curiosity, and is the organ in Bath of the Church of England, but at the same time chronicles events which may interest non-conformists.”
|
|
CHELTENHAM CHRONICLE 1809 -1983 |
Established 1809, conservative, in January 1975 it became the Gloucestershire Chronicle. Published on Tuesday.
“1860 - “Circulates in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Winchcombe, Stroud and generally through Glos, Wilts and Somerset.
Advocates the general interest of the county, giving preference to all interesting local questions and intelligence: is a literary journal, and its character that of a comprehensive family newspaper, patronised by the wealthy families of the town and district.
1900 - Circulates throughout Glos.
Whilst giving prominence to the local news of the town and district, the chronicle also supplies a complete summary of the week’s general news, including the latest in all departments by telegraph.”
|
|
CHELTENHAM EXAMINER 1839-1913 |
Established 17 July 1839, 1913, incorporated with the Gloucester Journal. Published on Wednesday.
“1860 - Liberal. Circulates through Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Stroud and Cirencester; and in the counties of Glos, Wilts, Worcester, Somerset and Devon.
Advocates the general interests of the district; is a literary and fashionable journal, looking not only to the resident population but to the numerous visitors for “utile”, with the dulce and entertainment with amusement (sic).
1900 - Independent. Circulates in Cheltenham and the surrounding districts. It devotes itself largely to local topics, and being studiously moderate, is read by men of all parties”
|
|
CHELTENHAM EXPRESS 1866-1888 |
Established 24 March 1866, conservative, last issue 11 August 1888
“1870 - Circulates in Cheltenham and generally in the County. It is essentially a local paper. Advocates the interest of the entire community, gives a digest of all important events, and pays particular attention to the local and district news, and is one of the organs of the Conservative party”
|
|
CHELTENHAM FREE PRESS 1834-1908 |
Established 1 November 1834, liberal, later incorporated with the Cheltenham Examiner. Published on Saturday.
“1870 - Circulates throughout Gloucestershire and the neighbouring counties.
Advocates progressive reform. It is the oldest Liberal newspaper in Cheltenham and is the accredited organ of that political party in the borough. The news department is carefully edited.”
|
|
CHELTENHAM JOURNAL 1824-1868 |
Established 8 November 1824, conservative, last issue 27 June 1868. Published on Monday.
“1864 - Circulated through Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Evesham, Stow, Northleach, Chipping Campden, Winchcombe, Cirencester, Minchinhampton, Tetbury, Painswick, Fairford, Lechlade, Moreton, Burford, Bampton, Witney, Worcester, Bristol, Bath, Oxford, Stroud etc."
Advocates the interests of the entire community, gives a comprehensive digest of all important events and pays particular attention to the authenticity and speedy publication of local and district news. It also gives a faithful resume of the movements of the fashionable world, devotes considerable space to reviews and extracts from new works, records interesting events connected with music and the drama, maintaining the character of a good business and family newspaper”
|
|
CHELTENHAM LOOKER-ON 1833-1920 |
Established 4 May, conservative, later incorporated into the Cheltenham Chronicle. Published on Saturday.
“Circulates especially among the upper classes of society in Cheltenham and its environs. Advocates no particular interests, but forms a complete notebook of the sayings and doings of the town, lists of the arrivals and departures, a registry of its various institutions, public amusements, movements of fashionable society, reviews etc."
|
|
CHELTENHAM MERCURY 1855-1903 |
Established 4 August 1855, liberal, last issue 12 September 1903
“1864 – Circulates in Cheltenham and surrounding district
Advocates administrative reform, and national unsectarian education; it is entirely free from the trammels of any political section. As a newspaper it comprehends all the departments requisite in a family journal."
|
|
CHELTENHAM TELEGRAPH 1868-1877 |
Established 4 August 1855, liberal, last issue 29 September 1877
“1870 - Circulates in Cheltenham and the county.
Advocates the principles of the Liberals but independent of party, taking measures on their merits. The Telegraph contains all the news of the week, both local and general”
|
|
CHELTENHAM TIMES AND RECORD 1850-1870 |
Established 19 September 1850, liberal-conservative, last issue 25 June 1870
“1864 - Circulates in Cheltenham and the county
Advocates the principles of the constitution in Church and State, while dissent is respected. The local news is well arranged and condensed. Fashionable arrivals and departures, with musical and dramatic intelligence are also given”
|
|
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO 1873-to date |
Established 1873 as the Evening Telegram, became Gloucestershire Echo in 1882
“1900 - Independent. Circulates throughout Glos Gives all the day’s news, local, general, commercial and sporting. Full telegraphic services”
1929 - Unionist. Gives all the day’s news, local, general, commercial and sporting. Full telegraphic services and adequate facilities for dealing promptly and fully with local events have made this journal popular. The Echo is the only daily newspaper in town.”
|
|
