SALISBURY is about to welcome back its very own media magnate.

The return of the portrait of Benjamin Collins, who jointly founded the Salisbury Journal with his brother William, will be welcomed as a historic event later this month.

Three centuries ago, Collins was a pioneer of his day and his portrait had proudly followed the Journal, wherever it was based.

However, after the Journal’s owners Newsquest recently sold the Rollestone Street offices, Benjamin had to go into temporary storage.

His return will be made on December 14, when he will be handed over to Adrian Green, Director of Salisbury Museum, at a special reception to be held at Sarum College in the Cathedral Close.

The college is now the new home to the Journal team.

Publisher Bill Browne said: “It’s felt a little bit lonely without Benjamin being around. We are delighted the museum have agreed to take him on long-term loan and that visitors will have a chance to see the man who in many ways helped record the city’s history since the Journal’s foundation in 1729.”

The Salisbury Journal remains one of the longest-running newspapers in the UK.

It faltered slightly at the start but has been published continuously since 1736.

Arguably, it is second only in this achievement to the Worcester Journal.

Two other titles may claim to have their origins before.

These are the Kentish Gazette and the Yorkshire Post – but both began life under different banners i.e. the Kentish Post (1717) and the Leeds Mercury (1718).

Benjamin was the main force behind the Journal, taking the title to be one of the most widely circulated regional newspapers in England.

By the 1750s it was being delivered around neighbouring counties and could be purchased in the best coffee houses in London.

By the time he died in 1785, a father to eight children, he had well and truly put Salisbury on the map in publishing terms.

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