Nottingham Mercury

The first paper to use the title Nottingham Mercury was launched on 1 January 1714 by John Collyer and printed at the Hen Cross.

It was published to offer an alternative view to that in William Ayscough’s Weekly Courant but it only lasted a few years before ceasing publication around 1727.

It struggled to gain readership so was renamed the Nottingham and Newark Mercury.

In 1847 Thomas Bailey became the sole proprietor[4] and production was transferred to Mr Forman of the Nottinghamshire Guardian, which reduced the cost and improved the quality.

[5] In 1851 the mass of subscribers withdrew in protest at Bailey's views respecting the original error of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, and his prophecies of its inevitable failure.