This short paragraph epitomises exactly what all the wonderful volunteers here at the Stamford Mercuy Archive believe. We have over three centuries of newspapers carefully stored in acid-free boxes on roller-racking shelving.
“Many people take newspapers, but few preserve them; yet the most interesting reading imaginable is a file of old newspapers. It brings up the very age, with all its bustle and every day affairs, and marks its spirit and its genius more than the most laboured description of the historian. Who can take a paper dated half a century ago, without the thoguht that almost every name there printed is not cut upon a tombstone at the head of an epitaph?”
The Stamford Mercury, 3rd November, 1843.
You may not know, but members of the public are welcome to visit the archive by appointment to make a search of the Stamford Mercury via our microfilm. Use of the archive is free for personal research; but we do make a small charge for images (scans or photographs; A4/A3 which cost £1 each). Our opening hours are Tuesdays 10.30 am – 1 pm, Thursdays 9.30 – 11.30 am and Fridays 1.30 – 4.00 pm. As the archive is not completely indexed it will be helpful to you if you have an idea of the dates you want to search.
Please visit the contact page of our website for details on how to contact us at the Stamford Mercury Archive, and the Using the archive page for more details on enquiries.