Celebrate 260 years of historic front pages: Free downloads

See how we covered landmark dates such as the Coronation, the Moon Landing and events from the Second World War, and discover the first edition of the newspaper and the first time news moved to the front pages which was only in 1939.

It was on Tuesday, July 2 1754 that Griffith Wright launched a new weekly newspaper, the Leedes Intelligencer, from premises in the Lower Headrow.

It went on to become The Yorkshire Post and the Leeds Intelligencer and eventually in 1883 just The Yorkshire Post, just as it is now after the word ‘The’ was added back to the title earlier this year.

This is just one special initiative to mark the paper’s 260th birthday this year.

We will also be bringing you special supplements over the next few months showcasing the very best of our photography and covering topics such as Making the Headlines, for Queen and Country, Battling the Elements, and Coast and Countryside.

And look out for a special subscription offer and 260th anniversary merchandise. Towards the end of the year we will also be asking you to nominate who you think deserve our own 260th Birthday Honours.

• We would also like to know what in your view is the most memorable story The Yorkshire Post has covered and your memories of the paper from the years gone by. Tell us also how you think the paper has changed over the years.

Write to us at Yorkshire Post 260th anniversary memories, No 1 Leeds, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS12 1BE or email [email protected]. You can also Tweet using #TheYP260 or visit The Yorkshire Post’s Facebook page.

DOWNLOAD THESE FRONT PAGES...

• 1754: First edition of The Leeds Intelligencer

• 1939: Russia invades Finland

• 1944: D-Day

• 1953: Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

• 1969: First moon landing

• 1986: Concorde at Leeds Bradford Airport

• 2011: William and Kate marry

TIMELINE

1754

Griffith Wright launches a new weekly newspaper, the Leedes Intelligencer, from premises in the Lower Headrow. Leeds already has a newspaper, the Leeds Mercury, running since 1718.

1755

The Mercury folds. The Intelligencer moves to different premises at New-Street End in October.

1765

The Leeds Mercury is revived. In issue 603 of the Intelligencer on October 8, Leedes becomes Leeds for the first time.

1801

Edward Baines buys the Leeds Mercury.

1805

Baines claims his paper outsells the Intelligencer and a bitter 150-year rivalry gathers momentum.

1809

The name is changed to Wright’s Leeds Intelligencer.

1818

After 64 years in control by Griffith Wright, his son Tom and then his son Griffith Junior, the family sells the paper. There’s another name change to Leeds Intelligencer and Yorkshire General Advertiser.

1836

The expanding Intelligencer is now in bigger premises shared with the Leeds Library in Commercial Street.

1861

Leeds Mercury becomes a daily.

1866

Leeds Conservatives fear that the weekly Intelligencer is being politically outfought by the Liberal-supporting Leeds Mercury. A group of businessmen set up the Yorkshire Conservative Newspaper Company and buy the Intelligencer. July 2 is the launch date for The Yorkshire Post and the Leeds Intelligencer. The paper gets a new home at Change Court, Albion Street.

1883

The Yorkshire Post drops the Leeds Intelligencer from the title.

1923

The Leeds Mercury is taken over by Yorkshire Conservative Newspapers but continues to be published separately.

1938

Editor Arthur Mann runs a leader article commenting on an address by the Bishop of Bradford concerning the coronation of Edward VIII. The British people become aware of the King’s relationship with Mrs Simpson for the first time. It begins the chain of events which leads to the abdication.

1939

November 27 brings the end of the road for the Leeds Mercury. Fears about the effects of the war on newspapers in general results in its absorption into the Yorkshire Post.

1967

Yorkshire Conservative Newspapers changes its name to Yorkshire Post Newspapers. A site is acquired on Wellington Street.

1969

YPN merges with United Newspapers.

1998

United News and Media sell the Yorkshire Post and other regional titles to Regional Independent Media.

2002

April sees another change of ownership. Johnston Press buys Regional Independent Media for 560m. In July, the Yorkshire Post is voted Newspaper of the Year at the Regional Press Awards in London.

2012

The paper moves to new premises at No1 Leeds on Whitehall Road.

2014