Marking 158 years of the Advertiser

Ann Hinchliffe ran a printers at the back of her stationery and book shop on the High Street and published the first issue on January 2, 1858.

The blue plaque, behind Hamby’s shoe shop, was a joint project between Rotherham District Civic Society and the Advertiser.

Civic society secretary Peter Hawkridge said: “It is important to remember the contribution made by women to the development of Rotherham.

“When Ann established the Advertiser, she was 53 years old. It was quite a tremendous achievement for a lady at that stage of her life.

“Rotherham has been seen in many respects as having a history focused on its men. We must also recognise the contributions and achievements made by women like Ann.”

The first paper cost a penny and comprised four pages. Stories covered the Crimean War and the news that Florence Nightingale had been presented with a canteen of cutlery for services to the wounded.

Closer to home, the hot topics included a miners’ strike over pay and conditions at the Elsecar and Rawmarsh pits, owned by the Fitzwilliams of Wentworth.

Advertiser editor Andrew Mosley said: “Over the years, the nature of the paper, its size, content and the company itself has changed dramatically.

“But its focus has always remained on Rotherham and reporting the news that effects the people that live here.

“None of this would be possible were it not for Ann. The blue plaque will ensure her name and her contribution to the history of Rotherham is forever remembered.”

Ann was born in Thurnscoe, married bookseller Joseph Hinchliffe, had three children and lived on Westgate.

Her husband - 15 years Ann’s senior - died in 1843, aged 52, leaving her to provide for their children.

The census of 1851 showed that she had moved to 33 High Street, where she developed a successful book and stationery store, with religious books particularly popular.

Ann went into partnership with Henry Epworth, running a printing and book-binding business at the back of the shop and, in January 1858, bringing out the first Advertiser, which sold for a penny.

The first issue was printed behind the shop on High Street before the business moved into All Saints’ churchyard. They sold the Advertiser to J F Moss in 1866.

Ann died in 1873, aged 69, and her youngest son George took over the stationery business for several years.

Ald George Gummer, who published his Reminiscences of Rotherham in the 1920s, and who knew Ann, described her as “a smart and canny business woman”.