1856 - Bucks Free Press, originally called South Bucks Press & Weekly General Advertiser, was launched by William Butler in response to the development of the town’s railway and many manufacturing operations.

1863 - Watford Observer launched by Samuel Peacock, son of one of the founders of Watford’s printing industry.

1873 - Richmond & Twickenham Times launched by Edward King when he was just 26. During 1894 the company was taken over by Frederick Dimbleby and it remained in the Dimbleby family until Newsquest purchased the business in 2001.

1875 - Hendon Times Series was launched by Mr Blackwell but, with sales struggling, the ownership soon changed to Warden & Co.; in whose hands it remained for 90 years. Subsequent owners Merritt and Hatcher, later sold the paid-for weekly Times series to Westminster Press

1876 - Guardian launched to serve Walthamstow and Leyton. It was the idea of three businessmen: Walter Booth, an accountant, Robert Willis, a printer in London and Samuel Herbert, who assumed the role of editor and later became the newspaper’s chairman and Managing Director.

1876 - Waltham Forest Independent was launched just to the south of the Guardian in Leytonstone, by JG Locks. The title was in competition with the Guardian until they merged in 1972, under British Electrical Press. Originally a paid for title, it became free in 1980, and has a sister title; the Epping Forest Independent.

1894 - Richmond & Twickenham Times taken over by Frederick Dimbleby. It remained in the Dimbleby family until Newsquest purchased the business in 2001.

1919 - Guardian is controlled by Alderman Matthews, a well-known Essex County Councillor and magistrate, and Matthew Williamson.

1950’s - Guardian purchased by British Electrical Press, subsidiary of British Electric Traction Company.

1953 - Harlow & Bishop’s Stortford Citizen was launched by Shenvall Press to serve the Epping Forest District new town of Harlow.

1954 - Bucks Free Press purchased by Merritt and Hatcher Ltd.

1956 - Bucks Free Press Midweek launched.

1965 - News Shopper, founded by Richard Addison, Gerald McKnight, David English, Rayne Kruger and Anthony Aaronson, was launched as the first free newspaper in Orpington. Popular with local residents, the title quickly expanded and became the largest free paper in England until being purchased by Berrows in the early seventies.

1969 - The Midweek Observer, now Watford Free, was launched.

1970 - The Enfield Independent was launched by an entrepreneur. Bucks Free Press, and sister titles, purchased by Westminster.

1973 - St Albans & Harpenden review was launched, and was one of the earliest free papers in the country.

1975 - News Shopper purchased by the Murray family.

1980 - Free title High Wycombe Star, now South Bucks Star, was launched.

1980’s - Guardian, Independent, and sister titles, purchased by Reed Regional Newspaper.

1981 - Local Guardian launched, beginning with the Wimbledon Guardian. The level of success prompted the addition of nine more South London editions.

1983 - Limited Edition, the free glossy magazine, was launched in Buckinghamshire; targeting AB homes in the area.

1984 - News Shopper purchased by Reed Regional Newspaper.

1985 - News Shopper launches Finesse, free glossy magazine, now known as Limited Edition.

1987 - Hendon Times Series changes from a paid-for to a free title.

1989 - Bucks Free Press share an award for design with national title The Independent.

1992 - Bucks Free Press wins best weekly newspaper in the UK Press Gazette Awards.

1996 - Newsquest formed in January, in order to buy-out Reed Regional Newspaper.

1996 - Newsquest purchases Westminster Press in December, and the company doubles in size.

1997 - Bucks Free Press wins best weekly newspaper, for the second time, in the UK Press Gazette Awards.

1997 - Harrow Times was launched, closely followed by sister papers in Hillingdon & Uxbridge, and Ealing.

1999 - Newsquest is purchased by US publisher Gannett.

1999 - Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times launched.

2000 - Ealing Times launched.

2001 Bucks Free Press wins the Newspaper Society’s website of the year.

2007 - LE Man launched and wins silver for niche Publication of the Year at the Annual Newspaper Society Weekly Awards.

2008 - The last broadsheet in London, the Richmond & Twickenham Times turns tabloid.

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