TOKEN

Preston Guardian newspaper token probably dating from 1872 when the office opened in Fishergate and probably no later than 1914. The inscription on the obverse: THE MOST ELIGIBLE [] FOR ADVERTISEMENT IN NORTH & EAST LANCASHIRE and on the reverse: PRESTON GUARDIAN OFFICE IN FISHERGATE PRESTON. The diameter is 28mm and the weight 3.63g. Same as LANCUM-AF0903.

The Preston Guardian still exists but it now called the Farmers Guardian which is a weekly newspaper aimed at the British farming industry. It provides comprehensive and topical news with Livestock, Arable and Machinery sections; as well as business information and latest market prices. It is sold nationally and publishes on a Friday. Based in Preston Lancashire, it was for many years owned by United Business Media United Business Media but it and sister title Pulse were sold to UK business-to-business publisher Briefing Media in February 2012 in a deal worth £10 million.

The newspaper started life, on 10 February 1844, priced 4½d, as the Preston Guardian, and was founded by Joseph Livesay, the "father" of the total abstinence movement in Britain to support the campaign for the repeal of the Corn Laws. He was assisted by his sons: William, as sub-editor and manager of the business department (until forced to retire by ill health); John, who came in as editor at the age of 21; and younger sons Franklin and Howard. Livesey Snr. was, however, the overall superintendent and wrote the leaders for local news items.

The success of the newspaper can be attested by a remark of Richard Cobden: "I never remember a case of a local newspaper succeeding as this has done in so short a time and subject to the same competition". The paper lasted for 15 years under the Livesey's management, until 1859. By then it had become a valuable commodity and was sold to local businessman and fellow teetotaller, George Toulmin (1857-1923), who owned the paper until 1883. Thomas Wemyss Reid was an editor from 1864-1866.

In 1872, a new office building was completed in Fishergate, Preston, and the paper moved into the ground floor (the building was demolished in 1989). The paper lasted under its original name until October 1964 and then continued to the present day as the "Farmers Guardian"

Numismatic data

No numismatic data has been recorded for this coin yet.