City history database goes online

Microfilm copies have been made of the paper between 1770 and 1800

Georgian newspapers detailing life in 18th Century Bath have been made electronically available to the public.

Microfilm copies have been created of the Bath Chronicle dating from between 1770 and 1800.

It has taken 15 volunteers more than three years to complete the cataloguing work, which is still continuing.

Bath and North East Somerset Council's archivist Colin Johnston said it would be a very useful research tool for local historians.

"The new database is an invaluable source of information and will make finding articles much easier," he said.

"People will be able to type in key search words and then find out exactly which edition of the newspaper they need to look in for the whole article.

We have worked methodically over the past three years or so to filter out things that dealt with Bath and the surrounding district. Dr Donald Straughan, Volunteer

The original newspapers are still kept by the city's library.

Local resident Dr Donald Straughan, who co-ordinated the volunteers, said: "We have worked methodically over the past three years or so to filter out things that dealt with Bath and the surrounding district.

"That includes some of the villages as well as the city itself. We chose to record references to local events and people, and some of the historical events that happened on a national or international scale."

Some of the items catalogued include:

9 March 1780 Crime: Berkshire Assizes, John Dunn sentenced to 5 years hard labour on R Thames for stealing box of silver buckles from John Ford and John Williams, Silversmiths, Bath.

16 February 1792 Notices: Anyone indulging the custom of throwing at cocks on Shrove Tuesday (or any other day) will be punished by law - Walter Wiltshire (Mayor), John Horton and Jacob Smith (JPs).

19 Feb 1789 Pets: Lost dog - old, very fat hound bitch, answers to "Darling". 1 guinea reward if brought to 14 the Crescent, Bath.