Hatchards

Article summary

Hatchards is an English bookshop claiming to be the oldest in the United Kingdom, founded on Piccadilly in 1797 by John Hatchard. After one move, it has been at the same location on Piccadilly next to Fortnum & Mason since 1801, and the two stores are also neighbours in St Pancras railway station as of 2014. It has a reputation for attracting high-profile authors and holds two royal warrants, granted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Key claims

1. date of foundation: 1797 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of foundation: 1797 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of foundation: 1768 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of foundation is "1797". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of foundation is "1797". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of foundation is "1768". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366793965