Hold the front page! How news was delivered on the pages of the first Blackpool Gazette in 1873

We know that only too well and as The Gazette turns 150-years-old this year, an absolute feat in itself but moreso in an industry which evolves more quickly than any other, we have had to keep up with change to survive.

From it’s first front page in 1873 to breaking news on our print and web pages today, one thing hasn’t changed and that is our pledge to deliver to the public a first class news service.

It all began with four pages – and that promise back in 1873.

One penny purchased the very first Gazette.

As was the practice in those days there was no news on the front page. Just advertisements. But what advertisements!

Six bob could buy you a dozen quarts of Guinness goodness from Henry Johns of Church Street; G Bolton's advertised early spring novelties in trimmed straw and Aspinall's had ‘pure homemade bread.’There was an Easter weekend package of professional music from the ‘great masters’ of Raikes Hall Park and Gardens where the massive ‘Monstre’ platform could accommodate 3,000 people for just 2d a head.

Forty local traders had put their faith in the pulling power of our publication - and THAT pledge contained in the first editorial on page two said: “We this week offer the Blackpool public the first number of 'The Blackpool Gazette' - a new journal that we hope to make, and that we feel with every confidence will soon become, a first-class local newspaper."

A journal!The writer spotlighted the rise of Blackpool as a resort - reflecting the increase in education, wealth and knowledge of the nation.Blackpool, more than any other watering place in the country, enabled tens of thousands of people, from the rather loftily-described ‘trading and middle class community’ to beat the ‘monotony of labour, unbend the bow, and find that change of air and scene they so much require."So that's not changed.

Blackpool had become Britain's premier resort.The town now had the necessities of life: ‘sanitary arrangements, fresh water supply, gas lighting in the churches, chapels and schools.’

And so the time had come for the town to also have ‘a genuine local Press to report its proceedings, to advocate its interests and to give intelligent expression to its opinions upon all questions of general, as well as local interest.’With advertisements dominating the front page of the very first Blackpool Gazette on April 3, 1873, these were some of the news stories to be found inside the four-page paper.

Fourteen columns of editorial matter and chatter included reports of temperance meetings, local assizes, Poulton County Court, the Fylde Board of Guardians and Kirkham Petty Sessions all provided lengthy reports.

Another column consisted of names of visitors and their hotels - imagine that today with data protection! Details of the railway timetables and the very first readers' letters: all three of them.One dramatic news story too - the loss of the 95-ton Fleetwood schooner, Blue Jacket, off Holyhead, but with the good news that all hands had been saved.And now we find ourselves 150 years later in a media world which couldn’t be more different.