While searching our Ayrshire newspaper collections, we found this rather terrifying advertisement for the world-famous Van Houten’s Cocoa in the Kilmarnock Herald, January 1906.
Van Houten’s produced the first ever cocoa drinks using cocoa powder (patented in 1828 in Amsterdam). The company, now based in Sweden, still produces cocoa and chocolate drinks.
The Kilmarnock Herald is one of the lesser-known local newspapers in our collections. We hold copies on microfilm from 1882 – 1955. We also have the earlier paper, the Kilmarnock Herald and West Country Advertiser, 1845 – 1848.
As well as a complete run of the Kilmarnock Standard (1863 – present day), the other Kilmarnock newspapers we hold are -
- Kilmarnock Chronicle, 1854 – 1855
- Kilmarnock Journal, 1844 – 1857
- Kilmarnock Weekly Post, 1856 – 1865
We also hold Ayrshire-wide newspapers -
- Ayr Advertiser, 1834 – present day
- Cumnock Chronicle, 1901 – present day
- Cumnock Express, 1889 – 1909
- Irvine Valley News, 1909 – 1950 and 1955 – 1966
- Muirkirk Advertiser, 1924 – 1950 (except 1930)
- Weekly Supplement and Advertiser for Galston, Newmilns, Darvel and Hurlford, 1880 – 1883 and 1886 – 1945
These are a great source of information, not only for weird adverts, but also for valuable local and family history. You can access our newspapers for free, Tuesday – Saturday (9.15 – 4.30).