Detailed Record
Londonderry Sentinel, The
vol 1 no 1, 19 Sep 1829 - 1974
then: Sentinel. 1974 - 1985
Londonderry
Editor:
J. Darling
George Alleyn O'Driscoll (1854)
Barbara Wallen (Mrs. 1846-1854)
William Wallen (1829-1846)
George Alleyn O'Driscoll (1854)
Barbara Wallen (Mrs. 1846-1854)
William Wallen (1829-1846)
Proprietor:
Thomas Chambers (1864)
James Colhoun (1915+ [son of William])
James H. Colhoun (1829-1864, 1864-1879)
William Colhoun (ca. 1900 - d.1915)
Jim Morton (1958-)
John Montgomery Johnston (1858)
McPherson (1866)
John Morton
Barbara Wallen (Mrs. 1846 - 1854)
William Wallen (1829)
James Colhoun (1915+ [son of William])
James H. Colhoun (1829-1864, 1864-1879)
William Colhoun (ca. 1900 - d.1915)
Jim Morton (1958-)
John Montgomery Johnston (1858)
McPherson (1866)
John Morton
Barbara Wallen (Mrs. 1846 - 1854)
William Wallen (1829)
Publisher:
Thomas Chambers
James H. Colhoun
Barbara Wallen (Mrs.)
James H. Colhoun
Barbara Wallen (Mrs.)
Printer:
James H. Colhoun
Names:
Robert Young (compositor)
Size:
68cm
Price:
2d? (1829); 5d (1829); 6d (1835); 3 1/2d (1862); 1d (1865, 1882)
Circulation:
stamps issued for 1830: 54,800; 1,263/wk (1834); 1,800/w (1862); stamps issued in 1850: 60,500; 1,153 (1851); 8,000 (1882)
Frequency:
weekly (Fri 1854); twice weekly (Tue Fri 1862, 1865); thrice weekly (Tue Thu Sat 1882, 1886)
Indexing:
Births, Marriages and Death 1829-1869, from North of Ireland Family History Society (nifhs.org)
Departments:
Foreign and local news, correspondence, advertising, ecclesiastical intelligence, spirit of the press, poetry, imperial parliament, markets, fairs
Orientation:
conservative (1829, 1887); Protestant; unionist
Sources:
A Guide to Advertisers. London: Effingham Wilson, 1851. p.32.; Brown, Stephen J. The Press in Ireland. Dublin: Browne and Nolan Ltd., 1937, p.199.; Colby, Ordnance Survey of the County of Londonderry. Dublin: Hodges and Smith, 1837. p. 152.; Fleming, O'Day. Longman Handbook, 2005. p.381.; Hubbard, Newspaper and Bank Directory, 1882. p.1775.; Mitchell's Newspaper Press Directory; Northern Ireland Newspapers, p.37.; Sell’s Dictionary, p.377; Oram, Newspaper Book.; "Stamps, Ireland." Accounts and Papers 1831-2. House of Commons: 1832. p.2.
Histories:
"Londonderry Sentinel." britishpapers.co.uk.; Oram, Hugh. Paper Tigers, 1993
Comments:
Motto: "veritas nihil veretur nisi absondi.' "It was founded in 1829 as The Londonderry Sentinel & North West Advertiser" (britishpapers.co.uk).
The journal was established by William Wallen and governed after his death for many years by Mrs. Wallen, his wife. Wallen began the journal after he left the Derry Journal in 1829. Wallen disagreed with the paper's new direction in favour of the Catholic Emancipation (it used to be Protestant and conservative). So, he left and started the Londonderry Sentinel. It began with a limited amount of foreign news, but it quickly became a very popular paper. Despite most of the population being illiterate, the demand for this newspaper forced Wallen to purchase a new steam-powered printing press to replace his hand driven press (Oram, Newspaper Book, 51).
Wallen was always thinking progressively in order to gain an advantage over his competitors. Beyond acquiring new equipment to meet increasing demand, Wallen would send correspondents to gets news stories sooner than his competitors. Oram relates a story of a Royal speech being published in the Londonderry Sentinel two full days before its competitors even received it.
James Colhoun was a junior partner when the paper was established. He helped Mrs. Wallen after William's death, and he took over for her upon her passing. At this time (in 1849), Colhoun partnered with Thomas Chambers. Twenty years later, Colhoun took sole proprietorship and his descendants continued the paper until 1958 when John Morton and his son Jim became the new proprietors (Oram 51).
The paper has continued into the 21st century. From 1975 to 1986 the paper wavered back and forth several times between Sentinel and Londonderry Sentinel. Colby and other sources say this was originally called The Londonderry Sentinel and North West Advertiser and that it originally sold for 5d.
The journal was established by William Wallen and governed after his death for many years by Mrs. Wallen, his wife. Wallen began the journal after he left the Derry Journal in 1829. Wallen disagreed with the paper's new direction in favour of the Catholic Emancipation (it used to be Protestant and conservative). So, he left and started the Londonderry Sentinel. It began with a limited amount of foreign news, but it quickly became a very popular paper. Despite most of the population being illiterate, the demand for this newspaper forced Wallen to purchase a new steam-powered printing press to replace his hand driven press (Oram, Newspaper Book, 51).
Wallen was always thinking progressively in order to gain an advantage over his competitors. Beyond acquiring new equipment to meet increasing demand, Wallen would send correspondents to gets news stories sooner than his competitors. Oram relates a story of a Royal speech being published in the Londonderry Sentinel two full days before its competitors even received it.
James Colhoun was a junior partner when the paper was established. He helped Mrs. Wallen after William's death, and he took over for her upon her passing. At this time (in 1849), Colhoun partnered with Thomas Chambers. Twenty years later, Colhoun took sole proprietorship and his descendants continued the paper until 1958 when John Morton and his son Jim became the new proprietors (Oram 51).
The paper has continued into the 21st century. From 1975 to 1986 the paper wavered back and forth several times between Sentinel and Londonderry Sentinel. Colby and other sources say this was originally called The Londonderry Sentinel and North West Advertiser and that it originally sold for 5d.
Location:
LO/N38 A vol 1:1-, (19 Sep 1829-27 Oct 1854, 04 Jan 1856- 09 Jul 1869, 21 Jan 1870-12 Dec 1925, 01 Jul 1927-); PRONI (19 Sep 1829-Dec 1953) (micro Sep 1829-Jun 1909, Jan 1910-Aug 1915, Oct 1916-Dec 1919); BL/S-7 vol (1864-1867 odd nos); LN/U-1 (15, 29 Sep 1838, 16, 30 Dec 1843, 13, 27 Jan 1844, 03 Feb-02 Mar 1844, 30 Mar 1844, 13 Apr 1844, 26 Jul 1845, 01 Jan 1853); DB/N-1 F (01 Jan 1885-28 Dec 1911, 02 Jan-30 Dec 1913,07 Jun 1921-12 Jul 1945, 26 Jan 1954-29 May 1974, 03 Jul 1974-1985+); SA/U-1 A; LO/M45; BL/C-3 (1954-); ZN/C-3 (1850 odd nos, 1851-1854, 1855 imp, 1856, 1857, 1929-1931, 1933-1940, 1943-1951, 1971-1980)
Reproduced by permission, Public Records Office, Dublin
Reproduced by permission, Public Records Office, Dublin