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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

One of our collection of the ‘London Local’ newspapers is today’s #MastheadMonday. The South London Times ran from 1858-1865, with several little changes. It was digitised by the British Library and is free-to-view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/south...

Masthead of The South London Times and Lambeth Observer, which includes images of local landmarks. This was from issue 437, for Saturday 4th February 1865. The paper was priced at one penny.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

It's #MastheadMonday Today we showcase the Northern Daily Times (1853-61), a Liverpool publication that was part of a concerted initiative by the young Charles Willmer to establish the first viable provincial daily newspaper in England. Free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/north...

Masthead for the Northern Daily Times using elaborate font. It represents issue one, from 24th September 1853, and the newspaper was proved 3 pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

One of my favourite masthead's of all time - from the society newspaper, High Life in London (1827-1828). Digitised by the BL and free to view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/high-... #MastheadMonday

Masthead for High Life in London for issue one, Sunday, 23rd December 1827. It was priced seven pence. The masthead has lots of illustrations, showing high society, including a central motif of a man being knighted, and one either side showing people gossiping.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

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...

Masthead for The Standard of Freedom, which is presented as a ribbon curled around its moto. Its moto is: Political, Commercial and Religious Freedom, which appears on a banner in the middle of the title.
This is volume one, issue one, for Saturday, July 1st, 1848 and was priced at four pence halfpenny.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

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...

Four versions of Masthead for Bell’s Penny Dispatch. They use different fonts, layouts, and different subtitles.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

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

Masthead for the New Court Gazette featuring a stylised version of the UK coat of arms, with a lion and a unicorn. This is for the Saturday, 11th January 1840 issue, and was priced at 8 pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

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

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

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.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

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...

Masthead for The Court Gazette:and Fashionable Guide, featuring a coat of arms with a lion and a unicorn. This was volume one, issue one, for Saturday 7th April 1838, and was priced at six pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

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-...

Masthead for the City of London Trade Protection Circular, that features the City of London coat of arms. It was for volume one, issue one, Saturday 15th April 1848.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

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

Masthead for the Bee-Hive, featuring an image of a beehive and representations of various trades and industry.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

#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...

Highly illustrated masthead for Illustrated London Life. It’s issue number 2, March 18th 1843 and was priced at three pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

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...

Masthead for The Weekly Chronicle. This is issue 958, for Saturday 6th January 1855, and is priced at six pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

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-...

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

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...

Masthead for The Censor; or Satirical Times. This is issue number one, Saturday, January 4th, 1846. It was priced at seven pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

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.

Image of the Newspaper File Department at T.B Browne’s Advertising Office. It shows numerous shelves piled with newspapers, and various men reading and sorting them.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

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-...

Masthead for the Town and Country Daily Newspaper. It shows issue one, from Monday July 14, 1873.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

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...

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

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...

Masthead for the Hackney & Kingsland Times: And North-East London Telegraph. This was issue number one in the new series, after it was renamed. It is from 19th April 1862. It was proved one penny.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

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...

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

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

Newspaper masthead for The Correspondent and Public Cause. This is issue number one, for 5th October 1814, and was priced at eight pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

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...

Masthead of The Public Cause. Its subtitle was “The cause for which Hampden bled in the Field, and Sidney died in the Scaffold!” This was issue number three for Wednesday, October 16th 1811, and was priced at nine and a half pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

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...

Masthead for the Nonconformist Elector. This is issue number one, Friday 9th July 1847, and is priced at 3 pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

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...

Masthead for The Borough of Greenwich Free Press: And Kent and Surrey Commercial Advertiser. This is issue number one, Saturday August 4th, 1855. It was priced at three and a half pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

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...

Masthead for the Aurora Borealis. This is issue one, Sunday March 25th 1821, priced at eight and a half pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

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...

Four different mastheads for the British Neptune, they vary in design, font and level of illustration.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

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...

Masthead for the Evening Star. It is for issue one, Monday, 25th July 1842. It was priced at two pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

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...

Ahead for the Colored News for volume one number one, Saturday, August 4th 1855. It was priced at two pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

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...

Masthead of the Pen and Pencil: An Illustrated Family Newspaper. The title is given in simple block capitals. This is volume one, number one, for Saturday 10th February 1855. The price was six pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

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-...

Masthead for The City Chronicle: Tea Dealers’ Journal and Commercial Advertiser. This is issue one, for Tuesday, 12th May 1840. It was priced at sixpence. The masthead has the City of London’s coat of arms included.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

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...

Masthead for the Liverpool Standard: And General Commercial Advertiser. It was issue number one, for Friday, November 23 2832, priced at seven pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

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...

Masthead for the Age and Argus. It includes the motto ‘The very Age and Body of Time, it’s Form and Pressure.’ It lists this issue as part of the United Series, Saturday, October 7, 1843. The price was six pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

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 masthead did The Argus: Or, Broad-sheet of The Empire. The image shows volume 3, issue 106, for Sunday 7th February 1841. It was priced at 6 pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

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...

The Masthead for The Age. It had the subtitle “The very age and body of the time.” It is for issue one, Sunday, May 15, 1825 and is priced at seven pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Happy #caturday from this princess who needs her own cushion

A tabby cat sleeping with her head on a cushion.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Today's #MastheadMonday is the Colonist & Weekly Courier (1824-1825). A London weekly newspaper focussed on colonial & commercial news, it eschewed politics and devoted much space to news from/about Liverpool. Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/colon...

The masthead for the Colonist and Weekly Courier. It features a central decoration including a lion, a unicorn, and images of ships travelling. It is for issue 12, Saturday April 18 1824, and the price was 7 pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

It’s #MastheadMonday, so here’s The Anti-Gallican Monitor (1811-25). Founded by Lewis Goldsmith, it had a clear anti-French/Napoleon agenda & was kept afloat in its early years by government money & advice. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/antig...

Masthead for The Antigallican Monitor, and Anti-Corsican Chronicle.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

A London local newspaper for today’s #MastheadMonday. It’s the Tower Hamlets Mail (1857-1858), one of a number of sort-lived local newspapers that sprang up after the Stamp Tax was abolished. It was digitised by the BL and is free to view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/tower...

Masthead for the Tower Hamlets Mail, issue 1, Saturday 24th October 1857, price one penny.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

One of our more weird and wonderful titles for today's #MastheadMonday. The Fonetic Nuz (1849) lasted only 15 issues. For more info see @c19thnewshound.bsky.social’s blog: www.matthewstephens.org.uk?p=196 Digitised by the BL & free to view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/fonet...

The masthead of the Fonetic Nuz. It is written the the phonetic alphabet created by Alexander Ellis, who founded the paper to promote his ideas about language. It shows issue one, from Saturday 6th January 1849, price four and a half pence stamped.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Today's #MastheadMonday is the St. James's Chronicle (1761-1866). Produced by the Baldwin dynasty of publishers, it was a conservative paper published 2 or 3 times a week. Initially subsidised by the government, it later became strongly associated with the Established Church 1/2

Masthead for The St. James’s Chronicle: or, British Evening-Post. Shows price of six pence, the date covering the period from Saturday 31st December 1808 to Tuesday 3rd January 1809, and the issue number of 7967.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Making the most of a quiet day with a walk up the beautiful Parkland Walk. These cold, crisp, blue sky days are definitely some of my favourite. #parklandwalk #northlondon #winterwalks

A picture of the walking trail The Parkland Walk, a disused railway line in North London. There are trees, a muddy path and a bright blue sky.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

It's #MastheadMonday again. Today we feature The Hour (1873-76), an ultra-protestant, conservative newspaper. It was often seen as a rival to The Standard. Digitised by the BL and free to view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/hour

The Masthead of The Hour newspaper, features a decorative clock between the two words. It shows the issue number as 113, the date as Friday, 1st August 1873, and the price at one penny.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

The beautiful Pictorial Times is this week's #MastheadMonday. Founded in 1843 by Henry Vizetelly & Andrew Spottiswoode, in reaction to the success of the ILN, in 1848 it merged with the Lady's Newspaper. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/picto...

Very elaborate masthead for the Pictorial Times. It is from issue one, Saturday, March 18th 1843.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

To mark the anniversary of the publication of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol yesterday, I started reading the original text for the 1st time (it was actually a coincidence, but let’s ignore that). It’s made me realises how beautifully accurate the Muppet Christmas Carol really is! Best film ever made!

A scene from The Muppet Christmas Carol. Gonzo reads to Rossi, directly from the book, while sitting in a tree and holding a lantern.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

I got 10 questions right on #university challenge tonight, which is unheard of for the 2nd round (last week I got 2). I would have single handedly beaten the Exeter team which is just 😬😬😬

Image showing the University Challenge end scores for the match between Exeter, who had 35 points, and Bristol who had 290 points.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

A short-lived newspaper for today's #MastheadMonday: The Dissenter ran from Jan-Jun 1812, before changing title to the Correspondent, which lasted only 3 months. In October 1812 it merged with the Public Cause (1811-1816), which became the Correspondent & Public Cause 1/2

Masthead for the newspaper The Dissenter. It lists the issue number: number one, the date: 1st January 1812, and the price: nine pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

When you realise you have successfully indoctrinated your kids. My daughter spent the morning setting up her stone museum (the collection of pebbles she has it slightly out of control). A heritage worker in the making!

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

It’s #MastheadMonday. Here’s the Evening Star (1842-43), Feargus O'Connor's attempt to establish a daily London Chartist newspaper after 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...

Masthead is the Evening Star. The newspaper’s title appears in basic block capitals. The numeration tells us this is issue one, published on Monday 25th July 1842, and it lists the price at two pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Today's #MastheadMonday is The Ballot (1831-1832). It was edited by Thomas Wakley, founder of The Lancet (1823-), & advocated Chartist principles including the secret ballot. Digitised by the BL’s Heritage Made Digital: Newspapers and free to view here www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/ballot

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Today's #MastheadMonday features the Railway Bell (1844-1846), one of a number of short-lived newspapers launched at the height of the 'Railway Mania' of the mid-1840s. This was digitised by the British Library and is free to view on the BNA: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/railw...

The masthead for the Railway Bell: Illustrated Advertiser newspaper. It features a large bell with a clock on it and a British flag surrounded by cherubs. It also includes a train, a hot air balloon, an imagined idea of an airplane and a steam ship, and a crowd of people watching all of it. Underneath the masthead it has the issue number 15 in Roman numerals, the date: week ending Saturday, 31st August, and the price: sixpence.

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