Arbroath Herald
The Arbroath Herald was a Scottish local weekly newspaper serving Arbroath and surrounding parts of Angus from 1838 until its merger into Angus County Press in 2021.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Arbroath Herald, formally known as The Arbroath Herald Guide and Gazette, was a local weekly newspaper associated with Arbroath and the wider Angus area of Scotland. Founded in 1838, it reported on local events, public affairs, community activity, notices and advertising for readers in and around the town. Its identity was strongly tied to the locality it served rather than to a national or international publishing operation. For much of its history, the publication followed the traditional model of a locally printed weekly newspaper. Until 1975 it was printed in Arbroath itself, reflecting the close connection between the title, its production infrastructure and the community. The newspaper had only seven editors over its history, an indication of editorial continuity and the relatively stable institutional character of the title, although the available reference material does not identify those editors by name. A significant editorial change occurred in 2004, when news items began appearing on the front page. Before that change, the front page had primarily been used for advertisements and notices, a layout convention associated with older local-weekly publishing practices. The shift placed editorial news more prominently in the newspaper and represented an adaptation of the title's presentation to changing reader expectations and competitive conditions. Johnston Press acquired the Arbroath Herald in 1998. At the time of the acquisition, reported weekly circulation was approximately 7,000 copies. Johnston Press later reported that circulation had risen to 10,030 in 2005. These figures provide historical context for the newspaper's local reach, but they do not establish its current circulation or financial performance. The newspaper's position was primarily regional and community-focused, with its importance measured through local coverage and readership rather than national scale. Historical copies dating from 1889 onward have been digitised and made searchable through the British Newspaper Archive. This archive extends the title's practical life beyond its printed publication and preserves a substantial record of local reporting, public notices and community history. In 2021, the Arbroath Herald merged with five other newspapers to form Angus County Press. The merger ended the Arbroath Herald as a standalone newspaper brand in the form documented by its historical article. It is therefore best classified as a defunct local newspaper title whose publishing heritage continues through the successor Angus County Press and through digitised historical holdings.
History
The Arbroath Herald was established in 1838 as a weekly newspaper serving Arbroath and the surrounding area of Angus in Scotland. Its full title was The Arbroath Herald Guide and Gazette, although it was generally known in everyday use as the Arbroath Herald. The publication belonged to the tradition of locally rooted British provincial newspapers, combining community reporting with advertisements, public notices and information relevant to residents of the town and its hinterland. The paper maintained a close relationship with its home town for well over a century. Until 1975, it was printed in the burgh of Arbroath. Local printing gave the title a physical presence within the community and connected editorial production with the area covered by the newspaper. Across its history, the newspaper had only seven editors. The available reference material does not provide their names or tenure dates, but the limited number indicates a relatively continuous editorial succession. The publication's front-page format changed in 2004. News items began to appear on the front page for the first time; previously, that space had been used for advertisements and notices. This was an important presentational and editorial adjustment, moving the most visible part of the paper toward a more conventional news-led format while retaining the advertising and notice functions associated with local weeklies. In 1998, Johnston Press acquired the Arbroath Herald. At that point, its weekly circulation was reported at approximately 7,000 copies. Johnston Press subsequently reported circulation of 10,030 in 2005. These figures describe particular historical points and should not be treated as a current circulation series. They nevertheless show that the newspaper had a measurable local readership during the period following its acquisition. The newspaper's historical importance is also reflected in the preservation of its archives. Digitised copies dating back to 1889 are available for searching and viewing through the British Newspaper Archive. Such holdings make the title a source for studying local events, community institutions, advertisements, public notices and social history in Arbroath and Angus. The Arbroath Herald ceased to operate as an independent title in 2021, when it merged with five other newspapers to form Angus County Press. The merger placed the newspaper's publishing activity within a broader county-level structure. As a result, the Arbroath Herald is now best understood as a historic and defunct newspaper brand, with its legacy retained through the successor organisation and digitised archival collections.
- 2021
Merged into Angus County Press
[1]The Arbroath Herald merged with five other newspapers to form Angus County Press.
- 2005
Circulation reported at 10,030
[1]Johnston Press reported weekly circulation of 10,030 copies.
- 2004
Front page becomes news-led
[1]News items appeared on the front page for the first time; the space had previously been devoted to advertisements and notices.
- 1998
Acquisition by Johnston Press
[1]Johnston Press acquired the title when its weekly circulation was reported to be about 7,000 copies.
- 1975
Local printing ends
[1]The newspaper was printed in Arbroath until 1975, after which production was no longer based in the burgh.
- 1838
Newspaper established
[1]The Arbroath Herald was founded as a local weekly newspaper serving Arbroath and nearby parts of Angus.
Products and positioning
A community-focused local weekly newspaper serving Arbroath and surrounding Angus, with an emphasis on local news, public affairs, notices, advertising and regional identity.
Local weekly newspaper · 1838
Arbroath Herald weekly newspaper
The core product was a weekly print newspaper covering Arbroath and surrounding parts of Angus. It combined local news, public-affairs coverage, community information, advertisements and notices. Until 2004, the front page was primarily reserved for advertisements and notices; news was subsequently given front-page prominence.
Newspaper archive
Digitised historical archive
Historical issues of the Arbroath Herald dating from 1889 have been digitised for search and viewing through the British Newspaper Archive. The archive preserves the newspaper's reporting, notices and advertising as a historical record of Arbroath and Angus.
Brand decisions
2021
Merge into Angus County PressM&ABackground
The Arbroath Herald was one of six newspapers brought together in a county-level publishing structure.
Action taken
It merged with five other newspapers to form Angus County Press.
Aftermath
The merger ended the Arbroath Herald's existence as a standalone newspaper title.
2004
Adopt a news-led front pageStrategyBackground
Before 2004, the newspaper's front page was used for advertisements and notices rather than news items.
Action taken
The Arbroath Herald began placing news items on its front page.
Aftermath
The change made the presentation more news-oriented, although no further performance impact is specified in the available reference material.
Recent events
- 2021
Arbroath Herald merges into Angus County Press[1]
M&A
The Arbroath Herald merged with five other newspapers to establish Angus County Press, ending its operation as a standalone newspaper title.
- 2005
Johnston Press reports increased circulation[1]
Other
Johnston Press reported weekly circulation of 10,030 for the Arbroath Herald, up from the approximately 7,000-copy level reported around the 1998 acquisition.
- 1998
Johnston Press acquires the Arbroath Herald[1]
M&A
Johnston Press bought the Arbroath Herald. Contemporary circulation associated with the acquisition was approximately 7,000 copies per week.
Sources2 sources
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