Cheltenham Looker-On

The Cheltenham Looker-On was a social and literary weekly periodical published in Cheltenham, England between 1833 and 1920.

The Looker-On was founded in 1833 by Henry Davies, then the librarian and bookseller of Montpellier Spa,[1] with its first issue in May 1833. Davies had established his own newspaper in preference to taking a post offered with the Gloucester Chronicle.[2] Initially, the Looker-On was a literary periodical professing itself to be "A Note Book of the Sayings and Doings of Cheltenham". It quickly established a reputation as a weekly fashionable and literary paper, the Gentleman's Magazine in 1837 crediting the editor "whose talents as an essayist and editor have been honourably displayed".[3] The periodical's news and social gossip was widely quoted. For example, its report regarding the nursing of Queen Victoria's daughter was quoted in 1841 as far away as New Zealand[4] as was a report in 1847 of the Turkish Minister's wife arriving at Court in Court Dress rather than veiled.[5]

The Looker-On mixed social news and literary contributions and followed its editor's opinions being very partisan in the Conservative cause.[6] Following the death of its founder and editor for 57 years in 1890, it was taken over by his son Edward Llewellyn Davies until his death in 1898. The Looker-on became more a journal of news and fashion, and remained in publication until 1920. The Looker-On's Printing Works were also employed for local publications.[7]

The Cheltenham Looker-On has been widely referenced in local studies publications,[8][9] biographies,[10][11] music [12][13] and miscellaneous articles.[14]

Historical copies of the Cheltenham Looker-On, dating back to 1833, are available to search and view in digitised form at The British Newspaper Archive.[15] The Cheltenham Local Studies Centre at Cheltenham Public Library holds physical copies of the periodical.[16] There is also a set at the British Museum.[17]

References
  1. Boase, Frederick (1904) Modern English Biography
  2. In Memoriam H. D. Cheltenham Looker-On March 1890
  3. Gentleman's Magazine March 1837
  4. "New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume 10, Issue 52, 10 April 1841, Page 3". Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  5. "New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 223, 18 September 1847, Page 3". Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  6. "Adrian Courtney Cheltenham Spa and the Berkeleys, 1832-1848:Pocket Borough and Patrol?" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  7. Beale, D. (1904) History of the Cheltenham Ladies' College 1853-1904
  8. Miller, Eric. "Eminent Cheltonians Commemorated at Leckhampton". Cheltenham Local History Society. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. The Other Alstone Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Wellcome Library Summers Higgins". Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  11. "Paul P. Reuben Perspectives in American Literature - A Research and Reference Guide - An Ongoing Project Chapter 8: Dion Boucicault (1820-1890)". Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  12. A Cheltenham Music-Making The Musical Times, Vol. 45, No. 733 (Mar. 1, 1904), pp. 165-168
  13. "Glos Folk Resource Information". Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  14. Guardian Newspapers Pioneers and Packets 2 May 2003
  15. "Digitised copies of the Cheltenham Looker-On". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  16. "Cheltenham Local and Family History Society". Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  17. "Devon County Council Local Studies Service". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
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