As we enter the middle of June, we’ve cast our beady eye through Northamptonshire’s newspaper archives for some flashing headlines covering this week in past decades.
From miserly farmers watering down milk during the ration years of the Second World War, to upmarket restaurants shutting down with rat infestations, to the town’s first gas lamps 200 years ago, Northampton has always been at the forefront of hard-hitting news.
So step into our time machine as we bring you the headlines for the middle of June from our vaults...
1. Past headlines
We look at past headlines which hit Northampton in the week of June 10 to 17. Photo: NA
2. The Northampton Mercury - June 11, 1770
The Northampton Mercury of June 11, 1770, reported how the bells of Northampton rung for King George III's birthday. Elsewhere, increases in the prices of grain were revealed, with 14 people discharged from the county hospital. Photo: British Library
3. The Northampton Mercury - June 12, 1824
The Northampton Mercury of June 12, 1824, enthusiastically reported upon a presentation of the first gas lamps to light up the town's streets. The author also pondered the possibility of them shining from every church steeple - a charming idea that never came to pass! Photo: British Library
4. The Northampton Mercury - June 13, 1874
The Northampton Mercury of June 13, 1874, reported on the arrest of a riveter, Charles Biggs of Kingsthorpe, who smashed two glasses in a pub in Northampton's Mayorhold, before attacking the landlord and another man. He also attacked a police constable as he was led away. Photo: British Library