Today is a monumental day for the East Kent Mercury which celebrates its 150 birthday.

First published by owner Edward Hayward on June 2, 1865, it has served the Deal, Sandwich and Dover areas by providing readers with news of what’s going on in the area.

The Mercury’s birth provided the start of a weekly offering of news and advertising that has successfully stood the test of time.

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In its 150-year history it has survived competition, Hitler’s bombs, takeovers, industrial strikes and threats from other media – most recently the internet, which is becoming more significant in our daily lives by the week, if not the day.

But the Mercury continues to be sold and delivered to thousands of homes in Deal, Sandwich and surrounding villages.

Watch: The 150-year history of the the East Kent Mercury

We received a letter from the Queen, and a host of our advertisers, readers and notable people have paid tribute to the Mercury on its special day. Among them is John Trickey, chairman of Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown Regatta Association.

“The Mercury has always been a staunch supporter of the carnival," He said.

“The association was established in 1826, and the Mercury soon after and the carnival and Regatta week was always featured in old copies.

"When my wife Rose and I took the association over 20 years ago, the Mercury was the first to support us.

“It‘s a credit to this town.”

John Perkins of Deal Memorial Bandstand Trust, said: "For 150 years The East Kent Mercury has provided an invaluable service to our community reporting important local news and passing information to residents on a wide range of subjects of importance to them.

"There has always been outstanding support of the arts in The Mercury and music has feature pages every week ensuring that local concerts, theatre productions and festivals are widely publicised.

"This support helps to make events viable and directly enriches the quality of life for the residents of South East Kent. Long may The Mercury continue this proud tradition - and thanks."

Deal and Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said: "The Mercury is a Deal institution. Since being elected as MP in 2010, the Mercury has always been fair and impartial. The journalists always knowledgeable and great to work with.

"I look forward to reading the paper every Thursday for decades to come!"

For the last 17 years it has been delivered to thousands of homes in Dover as well, following the successful launch of the Dover Mercury in 1998. And in May last year the Mercury started a Sandwich edition.

When first owner Edward Hayward started the The Deal, Walmer and Sandwich Mercury on June 2, 1865, it incorporated three other local newspapers: the Deal, Walmer and Kentish Telegram, the Downs Reporter and the Cinque Ports Messenger.

The first editions usually comprised just four pages and sold for a single penny. Six columns of advertisements filled the early front pages and the weekly newspaper – then sold every Saturday – described itself as a “family journal”.

The other pages were packed with letters to the editor, blow-by-blow accounts from Deal police courts and meetings of Deal Corporation (a forerunner of Deal Town Council), railway timetables, plus, of course, stories from Deal and Sandwich.

National news was also included and the Mercury had a London correspondent, regular reports from the House of Lords and some stories from Punch magazine. The early editions were hand-printed on a Columbine press.

The Deal, Walmer and Sandwich Mercury had two more owners – Benjamin Eastes and Robert Newby – before, on November 6, 1880, it was acquired by Thomas Frederick Pain, the founder of TF Pain and Sons, who became its owner and editor. In 1980, the KM Group – its present publishers, bought it.

It now links with Kmfm and Kentonline.co.uk, where the Mercury’s news is published to a world wide audience.