Ponteland Observer
Encyclopedia
The Ponteland Observer was a weekly newspaper that circulated in the village of Ponteland
in Northumberland
in north-east England
and, later, the southern part of the borough of Castle Morpeth
as well as some of the north-western suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne
, from 1 October 1982 until 9 January 1986.
It was originally owned by Ponteland Observer Ltd, a company belonging to Michael Sharman, its first editor, who was at the same time editor of the Hexham Courant
owned by Cumbrian Newspapers Ltd. Unlike other paid-for weeklies in Northumberland it was a tabloid and was not part of a larger newspaper group. At that time the only weekly newspaper to pay attention to Ponteland was the 'Ponteland edition' of the Alnwick-based Northumberland Gazette
. A circulation of 2000 was claimed by the time Sharman left the Courant early in 1984, but in May that year he was found dead in his office shortly before his plans to launch a sister title to the Observer in Gosforth
could be brought to fruition; a verdict of suicide was reached.
The newspaper was bought by the Tweeddale Press Group, based in Berwick upon Tweed, with effect from 18 May 1984. From 5 July 1984 it became a broadsheet newspaper 'incorporated with the Morpeth Herald
- meaning that the Observer was effectively an edition of the Herald, with the front page and some interior pages changed. This arrangement ended formally from the 6 September 1984 edition but in fact much copy continued to be shared with the Herald and occasionally other Tweeddale Press titles, especially the Alnwick Advertiser.
At the end of 1985 the Tweeddale Press Group decided that the Observer, with a circulation of just 1200, would never become viable and decided to close the newspaper and its Ponteland office; the last edition was published on 9 January 1986, after which it was amalgamated with the Morpeth Herald, which in 2006 still retained 'incorporating the Ponteland Observer on its masthead, despite subsequent changes of editor and ownership.
Ponteland
Ponteland is a village situated in Northumberland near Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The name means island in the Pont , as the area consisted of a small piece of solid ground around St. Mary's church and the old bridge, surrounded by marshland. This marshland is now drained, with housing built on...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
in north-east England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and, later, the southern part of the borough of Castle Morpeth
Castle Morpeth
Castle Morpeth was a local government district and borough in Northumberland, England. Its administrative centre was the town of Morpeth.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Morpeth and Morpeth Rural District, along with part of Castle Ward Rural District.The...
as well as some of the north-western suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, from 1 October 1982 until 9 January 1986.
It was originally owned by Ponteland Observer Ltd, a company belonging to Michael Sharman, its first editor, who was at the same time editor of the Hexham Courant
Hexham Courant
The Hexham Courant is a weekly newspaper serving primarily the area known as Tynedale in Northumberland.First published in 1864 it now reaches around 45,000 people every week....
owned by Cumbrian Newspapers Ltd. Unlike other paid-for weeklies in Northumberland it was a tabloid and was not part of a larger newspaper group. At that time the only weekly newspaper to pay attention to Ponteland was the 'Ponteland edition' of the Alnwick-based Northumberland Gazette
Northumberland Gazette
The Northumberland Gazette is a weekly newspaper published in Alnwick, Northumberland, England.A broadsheet, it was established in 1854 as the Alnwick Mercury, but adopted the title Alnwick and County Gazette in 1883 after incorporating that newspaper, founded earlier in 1883; it continued the...
. A circulation of 2000 was claimed by the time Sharman left the Courant early in 1984, but in May that year he was found dead in his office shortly before his plans to launch a sister title to the Observer in Gosforth
Gosforth
Gosforth is an area of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, to the north of the city centre. Gosforth constituted an urban district from 1895 to 1974, when it became part of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne. It has a population of 23,620...
could be brought to fruition; a verdict of suicide was reached.
The newspaper was bought by the Tweeddale Press Group, based in Berwick upon Tweed, with effect from 18 May 1984. From 5 July 1984 it became a broadsheet newspaper 'incorporated with the Morpeth Herald
Morpeth Herald
The Morpeth Herald is a weekly newspaper published in Morpeth, Northumberland, England.A broadsheet, established in 1854 as a monthly and becoming weekly in 1858, the newspaper serves Morpeth, Ponteland, Pegswood, Ellington, Lynemouth, Widdrington Station and the outlying districts...
- meaning that the Observer was effectively an edition of the Herald, with the front page and some interior pages changed. This arrangement ended formally from the 6 September 1984 edition but in fact much copy continued to be shared with the Herald and occasionally other Tweeddale Press titles, especially the Alnwick Advertiser.
At the end of 1985 the Tweeddale Press Group decided that the Observer, with a circulation of just 1200, would never become viable and decided to close the newspaper and its Ponteland office; the last edition was published on 9 January 1986, after which it was amalgamated with the Morpeth Herald, which in 2006 still retained 'incorporating the Ponteland Observer on its masthead, despite subsequent changes of editor and ownership.