Builders in Lincolnshire have unearthed a remarkable piece of history during a house renovation. While removing an architrave from a doorway in Stamford, the team discovered a crumpled newspaper dated Friday, February 24, 1933. The Daily Herald was printed just weeks after Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933.
Chilling Headline
The front page features the lead headline 'Germany Under Terror – Hitler Governing by Rifle and Gag'. The article describes a nation descending into chaos: 'Germany is moving rapidly to a wild reign of terror, with Hitler using shootings, jailings and intimidation.' It adds, 'Destruction of all pretence of political liberty is threatened and the militarist cast aims at coming back to power. No one is safe if the Hiltlerites disapprove of him. Shootings are common and deaths of opponents of the Nazis go unpunished.'
Preserving History
Property developer Danny Letts, who owns the property through his company Belmont Places, has worked to preserve the fragile newspaper. He created digitally-enhanced versions to share with local historians. 'The building was in a poor state of repair but I was hoping to find a few hidden gems while we’re working on it. Until now we had only found a 30 year old Heineken can and some newspapers from 1996. But we found this old screwed up bit of newspaper which was initially just tossed aside. We later found it was dated February 1933,' he said.
Letts noted the article's mention of Hitler being responsible for 100 deaths, remarking, 'Little did they know what was to come.' The newspaper also includes a story about eight miners receiving the Edward Medal for bravery during the Bentley Colliery disaster in Yorkshire in 1931, which claimed 45 lives. Another article details farm worker Mr. Davison, who had lived rent-free since 1919 after retiring, as part of his employment agreement.
Future Plans
The discovery has sparked interest among local history and conservation groups, who are also investigating the property's past. Letts is still deciding whether to sell the house, use it as a holiday rental, or make it his own home. The renovation continues, but this small scrap of history has already provided a powerful glimpse into a pivotal moment in world events.
