THE Gazette & Herald has spent 2016 celebrating its 200th anniversary and to round off the historic anniversary an exhibition is to be staged at Wiltshire Museum.

Chief photographer Diane Vose has been working with fellow cameraman Trevor Porter to put together a fitting display to show people how both newspapers and press photography has changed since George Simpson first created the paper in 1816.

The exhibition at the museum in Long Street, Devizes, will run from December 15 until the end of February.

Miss Vose, who has worked for the Gazette for 11 years, said: "We will be portraying the newspaper's long history with pictures and a selection of articles from over the years.

"On display will be the first edition of the paper from 1816 which was originally published and printed in Salisbury before George Simpson moved the enterprise and settled in Devizes two years later. Also included will be a selection of front pages from 1916 the newspaper's centenary year and 1966 when the paper celebrated its 150th Birthday.

"We published a book called Yesterday’s in the summer which showcased images from across Wiltshire, spanning a 100 years of local events. An assortment of photographs will be on show in the exhibition, as well as the tools of the trade used by both journalists and photographers including typewriters, cameras, engraving blocks and telephones.

"Myself and Trevor Porter have arranged the exhibition in memory of the late Gazette photographer Colin Kearley to celebrate the newspaper's history and long standing tradition in the Wiltshire area. I feel very proud to be a part of the Newspapers history and the Wiltshire Community."

Back in January staff old and new along with supporters of the paper gathered at Devizes Town Hall to start the celebrations and to launch a £100,000 appeal for Julia's House children's hospice.

Throughout the year we have taken every opportunity to mark the paper's special birthday and the achievement of still playing a vital role in the community of Wiltshire.

At the launch regional editor Gary Lawrence, who has worked for the Gazette for more than 20 years, said: “In 1816 George III was still on the throne, Napoleon and Wellington were both still alive, Coleridge, Keats and Shelley were still writing poetry and books, and the railways were still 34 years away from coming to Wiltshire.

“Wiltshire constabulary was at least 23 years away from being born and Caen Hill Locks were only six years old when the first edition of the Gazette was printed.

“Here we are two centuries later and if it was not for George none of us would be standing here.”