The Guardian’s steampunk newspaper website

Ever wondered what a newspaper web site would have looked like if the internet was around when Charles Babbage was still tinkering with his difference engine?

The Guardian offers a facsimile of its 1821 front cover – when it was still the Manchester Guardian – but filled with modern news stories. It’s a steampunk version of the online newspaper.

I’m not sure how well this works on smaller displays, but on a 24-inch screen it looks wonderful and is far easier to read than some modern newspaper sites. Who would have thought a seven column layout, drop caps and a serif face would make for such a good online reading experience?