Berrow's Worcester Journal - the world's oldest surviving newspaper

Worcester holds the distinction of being home to the world's oldest surviving newspaper. In 1690 the Worcester Postman was set up and was published irregularly between then and 1709. It was not till after the deposing of King James II that freedom of the press in England became a reality. Until then printing had been strictly controlled and limited to the publication of official government announcements. The early history of the Worcester paper is unclear until 1709 when Stephen Bryan became its proprietor and since when it has been published every week and continues to this day.