Although the newspaper was ‘free’, the overseas subscribers did pay for postage! As you know from these articles, the Museum holds many historic copies of the Tiverton Gazette. The first edition appeared in April 1858 under the editorship of a young man, Robert Were. The British Newspaper Archive (BNA), available on subscription, or at many libraries, has a copy of the first edition. The title covers three lines in decreasing letter size. The Tiverton Gazette is followed by the East Devon Herald then ‘and general advertiser for Cullumpton, Uffculme, Halberton, Sampford Peverill, Bampton, Witheridge and Dulverton (spelling as they appear in the paper!). As well as back copies we hold thousands of photographs published by, and documents printed by, the Tiverton Gazette over the years

Today there are 4710 issues and 35,247 pages of the Tiverton Gazette on the BNA. There are many free pages to look at too but none, as yet, from the Tiverton Gazette. However, there are many free pages from the Exeter Flying Post describing events in Tiverton and Mid Devon. Have a look (web address below) but a word of warning, it can become quite time consuming, there are so many things to look at!!

Written by Museum volunteer, Sue B