Tales of strikes and poisonings: The Whitehaven News in 1879

At first glance the newspaper, discovered by local business owner Gerard Richardson, is much larger than today's editions and is in the traditional broadsheet format, whilst nowadays we have switched to a smaller tabloid style. 

The Whitehaven News was founded in July 1852 - meaning the title had only been going for 27 years at this point.

The newspaper was priced at one penny.

The front page is made up mainly of business adverts as well as properties to let and companies seeking workers. 

There are advertisements for upcoming concerts and events with pantomimes and plays being held at the Theatre Royal on Roper Street, which is no longer in existence. 

Some of the plays being performed included Father Come Home and The Spectre Bridgeroom. 

Theatre Royal adverts (Image: Newsquest)

The report states that special train services were being put in place from areas like Cleator Moor and Egremont - which no longer have railway stations - so people could come along and enjoy the performances. 

On the inside the stories are laid out in long lists with only the headline breaking them up. 

Unlike today there are no pictures or bylines for the individual reporters. 

One of the stories has been given the headline 'Three Hounds Poisoned Near Ullcoats'.

It explains that the practice of 'placing poison by the roadside' is 'in vogue in the neighbourhood of Egremont'. Three Whitehaven harriers were killed by the poison during a meet at Wilton. 

Three hounds story (Image: Newsquest)

One tragic story tells the news of a woman named Agnes Goodfellow, 47, who had committed suicide. An inquest was later held at the police station at Cleator Moor. 

One story which resonates very strongly with the news of today tells of a group of striking miners in Cleator Moor returning to work. 

The Whitehaven area is set to see the return of mining with plans approved for the new Woodhouse Colliery.