This inaugural issue came out on Saturday July 7, cost one-and-a-half pence in old money, and contained eight pages of syndicated news - including an account of the Crimean War - which was brought from London by stagecoach for setting.
Just 300 copies of this first edition were produced, using a hand-held press at the rate of 50 an hour.
Today, says Archant, the Herts Advertiser continues its mantra of offering quality journalism on every platform readers want to access it through, but now this is no longer just print, but through the internet, mobile phones and tablets.
Editor Matt Adams, just the 13th person to hold that title in the newspaper’s history, said: "As the foremost media in the St Albans district, and the only newspaper based in the city, we are very much at the heart of the local community.
"Whether it’s through our support of the Chamber of Commerce and the City Centre Partnership, our links to Grove House Hospice and St Albans City FC, our campaigns backing The Odyssey cinema project or opposing a rail freight depot, or our involvement with the Herts Business Awards, the Mayor’s Pride Awards and the Herts Advertiser School Awards, you can be sure to find us doing whatever we can to promote this great district in which we live - and long may that continue."
The newspaper's celebrations kick off this week with a four-page special, including testimonials from the St Albans MP, council leader and other key community figures, and will be continuing throughout the year with new Community Awards, a 160th birthday party and other features online and in print.
