Newspapers

Click a button to find out what information can be found in newspapers, which newspapers can be found at Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies or which other sources we hold that may be useful

Introduction & Background

The earliest newspapers date back to the seventeenth century but it was not until the latter part of the nineteenth century that newspapers began to be more widely read and to include items likely to interest family historians.

During the eighteenth century newspapers were subject to a stamp tax imposed by the government to limit sales and discourage the spread of news. This meant newspapers were very expensive and only read by richer people.

By the end of the eighteenth century more papers were being established, including local papers such as the Staffordshire Advertiser (1795) and Wolverhampton Chronicle (1789). All papers, including the local ones, were largely aimed at informing the gentry about events in London and the wider world that might affect trade. They carried little or no local news.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century newspapers were becoming cheaper and were aimed at a wider audience who, since the passing of the 1870 Education Act, were more likely to have received at least a basic level of education. Several new provincial newspapers were established, including the Wolverhampton Express and Star (1882), and they started to include more items relating to local events.

If you are looking for references to your ancestors you will probably find newspapers from this period onwards the most fruitful source of information.