Sherborne Mercury
Encyclopedia
The Sherborne Mercury is a defunct regional newspaper, published in Sherborne
, Dorset
, United Kingdom
.
It was a hugely influential newspaper, particularly as its news coverage and distribution went well beyond that of the boundaries of Dorset.
It was published by Robert Goadby
(1720/21–1778), a printer
and bookseller.
It commenced publishing in 1737, and it eventually became the Sherborne & Yeovil Mercury. It was sometimes known as the Western Flying Post.
Robert Goadby died in Oborne
, Dorset
, where his body is buried in the local churchyard.
Goadby later inserted the following in his newspaper:
.
, Dorset
, Devon
and Cornwall
, testament to its historical importance as a newspaper of record in the West Country. It remains a popular source for genealogists and local historians.
Sherborne
Sherborne is a market town in northwest Dorset, England. It is sited on the River Yeo, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, east of Yeovil. The A30 road, which connects London to Penzance, runs through the town. The population of the town is 9,350 . 27.1% of the population is aged 65 or...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
It was a hugely influential newspaper, particularly as its news coverage and distribution went well beyond that of the boundaries of Dorset.
It was published by Robert Goadby
Robert Goadby
Robert Goadby was an English printer and publisher in Sherborne, Dorset. He was a Whig supporter, and influential through his newspaper, the Sherborne Mercury...
(1720/21–1778), a printer
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
and bookseller.
It commenced publishing in 1737, and it eventually became the Sherborne & Yeovil Mercury. It was sometimes known as the Western Flying Post.
Robert Goadby died in Oborne
Oborne
Oborne is a village in north west Dorset, England, situated in the Blackmore Vale close to the border with Somerset, on the A30 road adjacent to the town of Sherborne. The village has a population of 115 . Oborne is in the group parish of Yeo Head together with the three villages of Castleton,...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, where his body is buried in the local churchyard.
Selected content from the newspaper
Goadby later inserted the following in his newspaper:
"This is to inform all....in the counties of Wilts, Dorset, Somerset, Devonshire and Cornwall, that the proprietor is ever willing to oblige evey single person; but that it is impossible to contrive the circuit of the news carriers, as to take in every house or place; but if the inhabitants of any such parishes were this paper is not at present carried, would be so kind as to send a messenger to any place where it is brought in its usual circuit, for as many papers as are wanted in the parish, the proprietor will allow the person who comes for them a halfpenny on each paper he takes, besides a further allowance upon all the pamphlets, book &c. which he can sell in the said parishes."
Sherbornes
The hawkers, news boys and news carriers were known as Sherbornes. This name was also applied to hawkers and carriers of other regional and local newspapers in the West CountryWest Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
.
Articles of record
Archive copies of this local paper can be found in the County Archives offices of: WiltshireWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, testament to its historical importance as a newspaper of record in the West Country. It remains a popular source for genealogists and local historians.