Monmouthshire Merlin was a weekly newspaper, circulated in Breconshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Monmouthshire. In later issues of the paper, the title is printed as The Monmouthshire Merlin and South Wales Advertiser: A Conservative Journal for Monmouthshire, Glamorganshire, Breconshire, & Adjacent Counties.

The newspaper covered local and national news. Do you follow any local football clubs? Newspapers are a great resource for following news of such local clubs. For example, in the 4 April 1879 issue, we read the following account of disaster striking the Blackburn Football Club:

‘The Blackburn Football Club visited Bacup on Saturday to play the Rossendale Football Club. The Blackburn men divested themselves of their ordinary attire at the Market Hotel, and shortly after they had gone a young man, respectably dressed, went into the hotel and asked for “the football players’” room, as “he wanted something from one of his pockets.” He was shown the room, and after remaining a short time he went away. When the game was over the players were astonished to find that their pockets had been ransacked, and the money, watches, &c., had disappeared. Luckily, some of the players ha handed over their watches to the landlandy. Several of the men were left penniless. Nothing further has been heard of the thief’.

Amongst its pages, you can likewise find printed short stories, such as “A Romance of a Christmas Card” by Harry Wimborne. Such publications can offer a fascinating insight into the mindset of the readership of the time, including the general attitude towards love, work, and family.

Publication began in 1829 by Charles Hough. By 1854 in Wales, under co-owner Reginald James Blewitt’s management, the paper had gained the largest newspaper circulation.