MALVERN'S first newspaper was the Malvern Advertiser, the inaugural issue of which appeared on Saturday, June 16, 1855.

The paper was published by H W Lamb at the Royal Library, now Barclays Bank, and cost just threepence.

The paper featured a lot of international and national, as well as local news. Readers of the first issue learnt about the "new metropolitan cattle market" at Smithfield, saw an "Equestrian Portrait of Her Majesty" and read about fighting in the Crimea, as well as a "great meeting of naturalists in Malvern".

In 1860, a second newspaper, the Malvern News, published by Berrows, appeared, while in 1898, the first issue of the Malvern Gazette was published.

This was dated April 29, 1898, and cost just one penny. Among the reports it carried were the Cycling Club's annual dinner, an appeal for funds by Malvern Voluntary Schools and the Madresfield Music Competition.

The paper was published by M T Stevens and the founding editor was W H Welsh, formerly chief reporter of the Tunbridge Wells Advertiser.

A statement in that first issue read: "For some time past we have received representations from residents, businessmen and others in the town, as to the need for a newspaper which would be thoroughly local and representative of this large and fashionable locality . . .

"In local matters, the Gazette will identify itself with no political party, because we believe it is detrimental to the best interests of a town when political feeling is allowed to interfere with the deliberations of local public bodies.

"Every resident, we take it, has at heart the best interests of Malvern . . . In municipal and other local affairs, those taking a part must not be judged according to their political opinions, but the work they are able to accomplish as individuals."

Mr Welsh remained in the editorial chair until November, 1938. He died in October, 1946, having seen out the end of the Second World War.

Berrows took over the Malvern Advertiser in 1907 and incorporated it into the Malvern News. In 1938, it bought out the Malvern Gazette and merged the three titles.

One of the best-known editors of the Gazette was Joyce King, who took the post in 1944. She remained editor until her death in June, 1965.

Joyce King was succeeded by Edward Leigh Spencer, who ruled for 17 years, until his retirement in 1982.

Subsequent editors have included Gerald Fenn, Liz Griffin, Geoff Cotterell, Simon Evans, John Murphy and now Nick Howells.

The Malvern Gazette was originally based at the M T Stevens printing office, in Church Street, and stayed there until the 1950s, when it moved just down the road to 74 Church Street.

When this building was demolished, the Gazette moved to Langholme, Albert Road North, for a year, before relocating to 15 Worcester Road in 1983. In 1986, it moved again, to Broads Bank, where it remains to this day.

The earliest edition of the Ledbury Free Press on record is November 2, 1869, in which the headlines included "Fearful Affray With Poachers and Drunken Guinea Pigs".

The latter was an account of an experiment in which a doctor fed the unfortunate animals with absinthe, to illustrate the liqueur's baleful influence.

In 1908, the paper became the Ledbury Guardian & Herefordshire Advertiser.

The Ledbury Reporter & Farmers' Gazette appeared in 1904 and in 1921, took over the Guardian & Advertiser to become the Ledbury Reporter & Guardian.

In 1970, the Malvern Gazette and the Ledbury Reporter merged into the title that endures to this day.