Midlands newspapers hit the web
Genealogists can now explore a fascinating collection of historic newspapers from the Bromsgrove area completely free of charge
Editions of a Worcestershire newspaper dating back to the mid-19th century have gone online.
The Bromsgrove branch of the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry (BMSHG) has uploaded digital versions of the Bromsgrove Messenger to its website, enabling researchers to view and download thousands of pages for free.
Spanning 1860-1937, during which time the newspaper was published under a series of different names, the release follows months of work by Martin Stephens, who meticulously scanned the pages from microfilm copies provided by Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service.
Although the text is not presently searchable, each edition has been catalogued in chronological order.
“Early local newspapers are a great source for family and local history,” says Bromsgrove BMSGH branch Chairman, Mike Yegwart.
“They provide the colour that can bring a family tree to life, much more so than just looking at a census. Births, marriages, court cases, business and domestic disputes, town politics – they’re all there – and often from across the county.”
take it further
► Register to view the scans for free at www.bromsgrovebmsgh.co.uk
