I’m not sure how long this has been available, but Britain’s Times newspaper has put online the archive of its newspapers from 1785-1985 in a searchable format (that’s back to before the French Revolution). While you have to register to read the papers, the service is currently free. Search either by word, dive right to a certain date or use a thematic index. I found things hard to find, but once you land on something of interest it’s worth it: I was bemused to read a report on the Somme which begins “The Empire should be proud of her armies to-day.” Not something you’d read today. Find the archive here.