Cambrian News
Encyclopedia
The Cambrian News is a weekly newspaper
distributed in Wales
. It was founded in 1860 and is based in Cefn Llan Science Park, Aberystwyth
. Cambrian News Ltd was bought by media entrepreneur Sir Ray Tindle
in 1998.
in October 1860 as the four page supplement The Merioneth Herald. Having subsequently become a distinct paper printed in Oswestry
, in 1864 it became the Cambrian News. In 1870 it was bought by Sir John Gibson, who moved the headquarters to Aberystwyth, but kept printing in Oswestry.
In May 1880, the company integrated editorial and printing in a former Malthouse
in Mill Street, Aberystwyth. In 1926, Henry Read bought the paper and became Managing Director.
In the 1930s, his son Robert Read became the major shareholder, succeeded by his son Henry Read. It was under his direction that after 113 years, printing was contracted out. This enabled the move of editorial staff to the new open-plan offices on the Science Park at Llanbadarn Fawr. On the death of Henry Read, the paper was purchased by Sir Ray Tindle
, whose company owns more than 200 weekly newspapers in Britain.
After 146 years as a broadsheet
, the paper transformed to a tabloid format in 2006.
The paper publishes editions in several locations across north Wales and mid-Wales including Bala
, Criccieth
, Dolgellau
, Machynlleth
, Porthmadog
, Pwllheli
, Tywyn
, the entirety of Ceredigion
and parts of north Carmarthenshire
and Pembrokeshire
. It maintains offices in Aberystwyth
and Porthmadog
, closing its Lampeter
office in October 2008. The Aberystwyth head office was originally based in Bridge Street, before moving to Terrace Road, and Gray's Inn Road. It is now produced from a unit in the town's Science Park.
In April 2010, all the weekly editions of Cambrian News became available to view as an online digital newspaper on a subscription basis.
Cambrian News Ltd also publishes the Welsh language weekly newspaper Y Cymro
, Pembrokeshire weekly paper The County Echo, Welsh weekly Y Dydd and seasonal Holidaymaker
magazine.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
distributed in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It was founded in 1860 and is based in Cefn Llan Science Park, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
. Cambrian News Ltd was bought by media entrepreneur Sir Ray Tindle
Ray Tindle
Sir Ray Tindle is a British newspaper and radio-station entrepreneur. He founded the Tindle Newspaper Group and the Tindle Radio Group....
in 1998.
History
First published in BalaBala, Gwynedd
Bala is a market town and community in Gwynedd, Wales, and formerly an urban district of the historic county of Merionethshire. It lies at the north end of Bala Lake , 17 miles north-east of Dolgellau, with a population of 1,980...
in October 1860 as the four page supplement The Merioneth Herald. Having subsequently become a distinct paper printed in Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
, in 1864 it became the Cambrian News. In 1870 it was bought by Sir John Gibson, who moved the headquarters to Aberystwyth, but kept printing in Oswestry.
In May 1880, the company integrated editorial and printing in a former Malthouse
Malthouse
A malt house, or maltings, is a building where cereal grain is converted into malt by soaking it in water, allowing it to sprout and then drying it to stop further growth. The malt is used in brewing beer, whisky and in certain foods. The traditional malt house was largely phased out during the...
in Mill Street, Aberystwyth. In 1926, Henry Read bought the paper and became Managing Director.
In the 1930s, his son Robert Read became the major shareholder, succeeded by his son Henry Read. It was under his direction that after 113 years, printing was contracted out. This enabled the move of editorial staff to the new open-plan offices on the Science Park at Llanbadarn Fawr. On the death of Henry Read, the paper was purchased by Sir Ray Tindle
Ray Tindle
Sir Ray Tindle is a British newspaper and radio-station entrepreneur. He founded the Tindle Newspaper Group and the Tindle Radio Group....
, whose company owns more than 200 weekly newspapers in Britain.
After 146 years as a broadsheet
Broadsheet
Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet...
, the paper transformed to a tabloid format in 2006.
Today
Today, the Cambrian News is Wales' biggest-selling weekly newspaper with the second largest circulation newspaper in Wales, with 24,000 copies in sixth regional editorial versions, read by 60,000 weekly readers. The circulation area of mid, west and north Wales covers 3000 mi2.The paper publishes editions in several locations across north Wales and mid-Wales including Bala
Bala, Gwynedd
Bala is a market town and community in Gwynedd, Wales, and formerly an urban district of the historic county of Merionethshire. It lies at the north end of Bala Lake , 17 miles north-east of Dolgellau, with a population of 1,980...
, Criccieth
Criccieth
Criccieth is a town and community on Cardigan Bay, in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd in Wales. The town lies west of Porthmadog, east of Pwllheli and south of Caernarfon. It has a population of 1,826....
, Dolgellau
Dolgellau
Dolgellau is a market town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the county town of the former county of Merionethshire .-History and economy:...
, Machynlleth
Machynlleth
Machynlleth is a market town in Powys, Wales. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads.Machynlleth was the seat of Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh Parliament in 1404, and as such claims to be the "ancient capital of Wales". However, it has never held any official...
, Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
, Pwllheli
Pwllheli
Pwllheli is a community and the main market town of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It has a population of 3,861, of which a large proportion, 81 per cent, are Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones -...
, Tywyn
Tywyn
Tywyn is a town and seaside resort on the Cardigan Bay coast of southern Gwynedd , in north Wales. The name derives from the Welsh tywyn and the town is sometimes referred to as Tywyn Meirionnydd...
, the entirety of Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
and parts of north Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
and Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
. It maintains offices in Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
and Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
, closing its Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:At the 2001 National Census, the population was 2894. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in both Wales and the United Kingdom...
office in October 2008. The Aberystwyth head office was originally based in Bridge Street, before moving to Terrace Road, and Gray's Inn Road. It is now produced from a unit in the town's Science Park.
In April 2010, all the weekly editions of Cambrian News became available to view as an online digital newspaper on a subscription basis.
Cambrian News Ltd also publishes the Welsh language weekly newspaper Y Cymro
Y Cymro
Y Cymro is a Welsh language newspaper, first published in 1932.Y Cymro was founded in Wrexham, and succeeded other newspapers of the same name that had existed during the 19th and early 20th century. It is the only national newspaper in the Welsh language, and is published weekly, on a Friday.In...
, Pembrokeshire weekly paper The County Echo, Welsh weekly Y Dydd and seasonal Holidaymaker
Holidaymaker
The Holidaymaker is a special seasonal publication produced by the Cambrian News and distributed in Wales.The Holidaymaker covers three main regions - Ceredigion & Mid-Wales, Gwynedd & Pembrokeshire, and is printed three times a year - in the Spring, Easter and Summer time.It is a full-colour, free...
magazine.