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Leigh Journal

The Leigh Journal (or, to give it its full title, the Leigh, Tyldesley and Atherton Journal) is a weekly freesheet tabloid newspaper delivered to homes in the town of Leigh (formerly in south Lancashire, now in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester) and the nearby towns and villages, including Hindley, Golborne and Culcheth as well as Tyldesley and Atherton.

Its history goes back to the 1870s. In 1871 The Leigh Times was founded and ran for four years before merging with The Leigh Weekly Journal, founded in January 1874, to form the Leigh Journal and Times. In 1917 it was joined with the Tyldesley Weekly Journal and District News (established in 1873 as the Tyldesley Weekly Journal, Leigh and Atherton News) to form the Leigh, Tyldesley & Atherton Journal and District News. It adopted its present title in 1958, became simply The Journal in 1990, and switched back again in 2004.

It switched from being a paid-for broadsheet to a freesheet tabloid in 1988.

It’s published by Newsquest (North West) from editorial offices in Leigh.

Although it’s a freesheet, a very small number of copies (fewer than two per cent of the circulation) are sold through the news trade.

It celebrated its 140th anniversary with a facelift and a special supplement on 22 May 2014.

It comes out on Thursdays. A free e-edition’s also available on the website.

  • Address:
  • Leigh Journal
    44-46 Railway Road
    LEIGH
    WN7 4AT
  • Tel:
  • 01942 670669
  • Fax:
  • 01942 670479