Discover Horsham’s pioneering journalist

Ever heard of Robert Blatchford? No? Well you are not alone!.

It seems this radical journalist, who made his mark on society up to his death in 1943, has been forgotten by the town that he made his home.

The only acknowledgement of his achievements is the road named after him.

However, Dr Simon Machin, a member of the Museum Friends, is on a mission to make us all aware of the man’s accomplishments.

Dr Machin, a cultural historian, will be giving the Friends’ first talk of 2024 on Robert Blatchford, on Wednesday March 6 at the Wesley Hall, London Road Chapel, Horsham (2pm). Entrance £5 for members and guests (cash only).

After a time in the military, Blatchford, who was born in 1851 in Maidstone, took up a career in journalism in the 1880s, working on the Yorkshireman newspaper, the Manchester Sunday Chronicle and Bell’s Life in London.

He later help found a weekly socialist paper, The Clarion, which supported various industrial disputes.

Through the paper, which had an impressive readership, Blatchford had a book published, in 1893, called Merrie England, selling 30,000 copies in its first edition. It was a collection of his articles on socialism.

Blatchford continued to put forward his views in articles, including his views in 1909 on the ‘German menace’. He continued to comment on the threat to the British Empire through both world wars.

When his wife died in 1921 Blatchford, a prominent atheist, turned to spiritualism but continued to promote his strong views on socialism.

He died on December 17, 1943, in Horsham, aged 92.

The noted historian A.J.P. Taylor commented that Blatchford was the greatest popular journalist since Cobbett.

Dr Machin’s talk should prove to be a fascinating look at one of Horsham’s most intriguing figures!