A historic weekly newspaper, the Teesdale Mercury, is celebrating its 170th anniversary this year. The newspaper has been recently acquired by Andy Barr, who also owns other local titles such as the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald, Keswick Reminder, and the Cumbria Crack website. The Teesdale Mercury was previously owned by the Vane family, who also own Barnard Castle in County Durham.
Andy Barr, who founded Barrnon Media in 2020 to save the Herald from closure, expressed excitement about the acquisition. He mentioned that the synergies between the Teesdale Mercury and his other print titles in Cumbria made it a natural fit. Barr emphasized the importance of preserving trusted local and independent news in communities amidst a rapidly changing media landscape.
Former owner Carolyn Vane stressed the significance of securing the long-term future of the historic newspaper. She acknowledged the dedicated staff of the Teesdale Mercury and expressed confidence that under Andy Barr’s ownership, the paper would continue to serve its community effectively. The Vane family has had a long-standing connection to the Teesdale Mercury, with Ms. Vane being the eldest daughter of Lord Barnard.
Stuart Laundy currently serves as the editor of the Teesdale Mercury, taking over from Trevor Brookes in August last year. The newspaper’s sister publication, the Wear Valley Mercury, was launched in 2006 but unfortunately closed its doors in 2012.
The acquisition of the Teesdale Mercury by Andy Barr represents a new chapter in the newspaper’s long history. With Barr’s commitment to maintaining local journalism and community engagement, readers can expect the paper to continue its legacy of providing valuable news and information to the people of Teesdale. As the media landscape evolves, having a trusted source of local news like the Teesdale Mercury is essential for keeping communities informed and connected.
