Mid-Devon Advertiser

Serving local people with local news Queen Victoria was on the throne and Lord Palmerston was prime minister. The current editor is Nick Knight.

THE newspaper that was to become the Mid-Devon Advertiser was born in Newton Abbot in 1863 – in an era of horses, carts and bicycles, and in the middle of the American Civil War. The Newton Weekly Journal was established by printer, painter and picture-frame maker James Welford – who was proprietor, editor, reporter, compositor, reader, foreman, pressman, clerk, canvasser, stationer and bad-debt c

ollector, with the help of just one other – in offices at 10 Queen Street, a former grocery shop. In 1870, the short-lived Newton Abbot Newspaper Co Ltd changed the paper’s name to the East and South Devon Advertiser and it was sold in 1876 to Daniel Vile, later to become its editor. The broadsheet then moved to premises next to the British School and changed offices yet again in 1879, to a house in Market Street. At the time it was printed on one of the oldest presses in the west of England, an antiquated platen with a stone ‘bed’ worked by a weight and a lever. In 1908, the company was sold to the Mid-Devon Newspaper Co, which would own it for the next 60 years and its title finally became the Mid-Devon Advertiser. AJ Coles (Devon dialect writer Jan Stewer) was its editor from 1909-13. The Hearder family – publishers of the Newton News and Directory and Hearder’s Almanac – began its connections with the business from 1920. These ceased in 1969 when Beaverbrook Western took over the title, moving it to premises in Wharf Road. In 1976 it became part of West of England Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd. After that it was sold to a consortium of West Country businessmen until, in 1986, it came under the Devon and Cornwall Newspapers umbrella of Tindle Newspapers Ltd, an independent family-owned group with more than 70 titles. The paper moved in 1990 to its present 450-year-old Grade Two listed premises, at the Old Manor House, Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot. The medieval property – converted to accommodate newspaper offices – was built in 1534, five years before the dissolution of the monasteries. Known then as The Great House, it was headquarters to the Abbots of Tor, who lived at Torre Abbey, Torquay, and was used mainly as a secular or civil court. In the 19th century it housed a private school for a time and has since been a residence, the headquarters for a car dealer, architects’ offices and the local Royal British Legion Club. The building was bought in 1988 by Keith Stokes-Smith, who owns the title Lord of the Manor of Newton Abbot, and became the Advertiser’s landlord. A facsimile of the oldest available edition of the paper, July 17, 1869, was reproduced in 1990 to celebrate the move into premises which boasts Jacobean plasterwork, a brace of mediaeval fireplaces – and a ghost! The paper’s editors since Mr Coles have been Arthur Pope (to 1951), Sam Street (twice), Bernard Barnett (1964-1968), John Kendall, Lance Samson (1973-1993) and Tony Stevens, who retired in August 1994. He was succeeded by George Taylor, who was followed in an acting editorship capacity by Stephen Taylor. Ron White then became the paper’s first editorial manager. He was followed by Keith Perry, and then Ruth Davey. The Mid-Devon Advertiser also has two sister papers serving the coastal resorts of Teignmouth and Dawlish. Until 1982, they were covered by the Teignmouth and Dawlish Advertiser, but this was merged into the 100-year-old Teignmouth Post and Gazette and Dawlish Post on their acquisition from Farnham Castle Newspapers Ltd. The Dawlish Post is a free distribution paper in the town itself, though the Teignmouth Post remains a paid-for weekly. All the titles underwent massive change in the early nineties when new technology was phased in, bringing the Mid-Devon Advertiser and its sisters into the computer age. Today, advertisements and news are produced on screen, as newspapers prepare themselves for even greater success in the future.

Newton Abbot Bowls' county outings and a famous face

29/07/2024

FIRSTLY, in the Women’s Major Championship 2 Wood Singles played at Paignton Bowls Club on Sunday July 28, Julia Barnes lost out in her opening game, whilst Isobel Burley won her first two games.

Newton Abbot Bowls' county outings and a famous face

In Pictures: Road cordoned off as firefighters tackle Heathfield blaze

29/07/2024

In Pictures: Fire crews are tackling a large fire at an industrial unit in Heathfield
Spotted Newton Abbot Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton Born and Bred Spotted In Liverton/ Heathfield/ Bovey Tracey

In Pictures: Road cordoned off as firefighters tackle Heathfield blaze MORE than 50 firefighters are tackling a major fire at Heathfield industrial estate near Bovey Tracey.

Racist graffiti in Newton Abbot sparks appeal

29/07/2024

POLICE are appealing for information after racist graffiti was found in Newton Abbot.

Racist graffiti in Newton Abbot sparks appeal

29/07/2024

Sailors around the Teign estuary will be raiding their fancy dress stash over the coming week in preparation for Shaldon’s 63rd annual Water Carnival, which takes place on Saturday (August 3).

Deck the hulls and bows with folly

Fire crews tackle large industrial blaze in Heathfield

29/07/2024

Fire crews are currently tackling a large industrial blaze at Heathfield.
Spotted Newton Abbot What's on Bovey Tracey Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton Born and Bred Spotted Bovey Tracey & Liverton Spotted In Liverton/ Heathfield/ Bovey Tracey

Fire crews tackle large industrial blaze in Heathfield MORE than 50 firefighters are currently tackling a major fire at Heathfield industrial estate near Bovey Tracey.

Record levels of overcrowding at Channings Wood prison

29/07/2024

Channings Wood prison has experienced record levels of overcrowding, new figures show.

Record levels of overcrowding at Channings Wood prison

Teignbridge road closures: four for motorists to avoid over the next fortnight

29/07/2024

Teignbridge's motorists will have four road closures to avoid nearby on the National Highways network this week.

Teignbridge road closures: four for motorists to avoid over the next fortnight

Refurbished school maths block officially open

29/07/2024

MAYOR of Kingsteignton Cllr Ron Peart was invited to officially open a refurbished maths building at Teign School.

Refurbished school maths block officially open

Two tightly contested quarter-finals for Stover GC

29/07/2024

THE Stover Army go marching on and next up for them is the Palairet finals day.

Two tightly contested quarter-finals for Stover GC

29/07/2024

TEIGNMOUTH Golf Club hosted the Welland Cup on Friday 26 amongst its members, with 10 pairs entering.

Welland Cup wonder at Teignmouth GC

29/07/2024

WORK has started in 18 much-needed affordable homes in Chudleigh Knighton.

Work progressing on affordable homes

29/07/2024

TRAFFIC is held up on the A38 following a crash, police say.

Crash causes A38 traffic holdup

Bringing Scouting back to Kingskerswell one hut clear-up at a time

29/07/2024

A GROUP of volunteers are calling for help with restoring a Scout Hut that has fallen into disrepair.

Bringing Scouting back to Kingskerswell one hut clear-up at a time

End-to-end challenger Lexi captivates audience at Dainton

28/07/2024

A FOUR time world record holder gearing up to take on an ambitious challenge was the latest guest speaker at Newton Abbot Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast networking event.

End-to-end challenger Lexi captivates audience at Dainton

28/07/2024

CAREERS talk was on the agenda for students at South Devon UTC in Newton Abbot.

Preparing students for world of work

Rethink demolition of Newton Abbot site says heritage charity

28/07/2024

SAVE Britain’s Heritage are calling on Teignbridge District Council (TDC) to re-think plans to demolish a historic Newton Abbot site.

Rethink demolition of Newton Abbot site says heritage charity

28/07/2024

A food van based at Shutterton Industrial estate is opening a new outlet in the centre of Dawlish.

Sandwich Shed spreads into Dawlish

28/07/2024

THE longest-lasting female folk duo in Britain will be visiting Devon this autumn as they celebrate a significant anniversary milestone - and a new album.

Devon gig for female folk duo

28/07/2024

A RARE chance to see a unique time capsule of a small mining site will be soon be available.

Rare chance to see historic mine

Street license price hike met with anger by Newton Abbot businesses

28/07/2024

A HIKE in charges for street café licenses has been met with anger and upset by Newton Abbot businesses.

Street license price hike met with anger by Newton Abbot businesses

Dawlish gearing up for another Carnival extravaganza

27/07/2024

DAWLISH is gearing up for another fun-filled week of carnival.

Dawlish gearing up for another Carnival extravaganza

27/07/2024

RENOWNED sculptor Alistair Lambert hosted a creative workshop for students at a Newton Abbot school.

Sculpture workshop studies aviation

27/07/2024

VANDALS have trashed signage and damaged gates at popular Haldon Forest park.

Vandals attack popular forest

27/07/2024

A NEWTON Abbot café has opened in a new location after having left the town’s indoor market.

Newton Abbot café opens in new location

No police officers off work due to suspensions in Devon and Cornwall – despite national surge

27/07/2024

No Devon and Cornwall Police officers were suspended from their duties earlier this year, new figures show.

No police officers off work due to suspensions in Devon and Cornwall – despite national surge

Tolchards Devon Cricket League weekend preview 27/07

26/07/2024

WHIMPLE’s Sunday afternoon clash with Ottery St. Mary was the only Tolchards Devon Cricket League fixture to survive the bad weather last weekend.

Tolchards Devon Cricket League weekend preview 27/07

26/07/2024

DAINTON Park ladies have won their division in the Still Cup in their first season in the competition. As a result, they qualify for the County semi-finals day.

Division domination for Dainton Park

26/07/2024

It’s back to the time of flared trousers, long-hot summers and interestingly coloured wall paper this week, which means the archive files labelled ‘1970s Handle With Auction’ have been dusted off and rifled through.

A Photographic Memory