One of the oldest surviving newspapers in Britain is celebrating 240 years this year with a series of special events and features.

The early Essex Chronicle – called ‘The Chelmsford Chronicle or Essex Weekly Advertiser’ – was sold for two-and-a-half old pennies, in places like Peele’s Coffee House in Fleet Street and the George in Epping, and served at least eight counties in southern England.

The title was changed to the Essex Chronicle in 1885 and is now printed in six editions covering Chelmsford, Braintree, Woodham, Maldon, Witham, Dunmow and surrounding areas, with a readership of more than 150,000.

The Chronicle, launched on August 10 1764, has been bringing the news to the people of Essex through the reigns of nine monarchs, from George III to the current queen. It has reported on all major historical events from that time, the American Declaration of Independence, the Battle of Waterloo, the Titanic disaster and man’s first steps on the Moon.

It bore the line “to be continued every Friday”, and with the exception of two memorable occasions when the paper was mired in industrial dispute, this promise has been kept in spite of wars, depressions and revolutions.

A series of special events and features are being planned throughout the year to mark the paper’s 240th anniversary.

Chronicle editor Stuart Rawlins said: “This is another milestone in the history of a newspaper that was being read before the United States of America was invented.

“The Chronicle forms part of the history of Essex and in particular, Chelmsford. It has played, and continues to play, a significant part in the community and in the lives of those people who live or work in the county.

“Although the Chronicle continues to keep pace with changes in society and changes in technology, its roots in the community remain as strong as when it was first launched 240 years ago.”

In 1998 the Chronicle was recognised as the Newspaper of the Year in the Newspaper Society Weekly Newspaper Awards and has continued this success with last year’s recognition as winner of the West and East Midlands and Eastern Region award.

Recent research shows that the Chronicle remains the most trusted, helpful and referred to medium in the area.

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