Rutland & Stamford Mercury

It claims to have been established in 1695 and thus to be the oldest newspaper in Britain, although Berrow’s Worcester Journal has a rival claim to predate it by five years. (The earliest copy held by the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust – dated Thursday, May 13, 1714 – gives the title as The Stamford Mercury: being historical and political observations of the transactions of Europe, together with remarks on trade. Snappy.)

From 1784 to 1912 it was the Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury; from 1936 to 1953 it was merged with the Spalding Guardian.

It’s published by East Midlands Newspapers, a division of Johnston Press. It appears in three editions: one for Stamford and the Deepings, one for Rutland, and one for Bourne. All of them come out on Fridays.