Penshurst News - a short history of the village magazine

Maggie Atkins

An extract from Penshurst News 1968
Church Newsletter 1949

The history of Penshurst’s village magazine

The earliest record of a village magazine we think is at the end of the 1800’s although the earliest example discovered is a bound copy covering three years from 1916-1919. This is kept, with all editions since then, in Penshurst Village Hall Library.  It was called ‘The Church Magazine’ and was produced monthly for the parishes of Penshurst, Fordcombe, Chiddingstone, Chiddingstone Causeway, Cowden, Edenbridge, Shipbourne, Tudeley and Capel, which all fell under the Rural Deanery of Tonbridge.  The magazine had a photograph or drawing of one of the above-mentioned village churches on the front page each month and was six pages long, with each village being given a page or less devoted to its ‘local matters’, featuring mainly church services, ‘rummage sales’, national missions, notices of injuries or deaths of local residents as a result of the first World War.

The Penshurst News in its more recognisable format has been produced since around the late 1960s (if not before) – again, copies can be found in the Village Hall Library.  It was a parish magazine produced by the Rector at the time, The Reverend M.S. Tyler-Whittle, the cost was 20p, the annual subscription was £1.80 and it was produced on a duplicating machine such as a Gestetner, before the introduction of the modern photocopier. Volunteers were called upon to fold and staple the magazine.

The contents of the Penshurst News were broader than the previous Church Magazine, featuring local news stories and more advertisements.  For example, as well as local issues the January 1989’s issue mentions a conference to hear British Rail’s proposals for the Chanel Tunnel Train services.   Also that month Penshurst Amateur Dramatic Society (PADS) was in full force, preparing for Cinderella – three productions, with the Saturday one £5.50 including a party!  PADS is still going full force offering approximately two performances a year.

Activities in Penshurst

The village was vibrant and included the following activities: Play group; Bridge Club; Dancing classes; Penshurst Slimmers; Keep Fit; Darby and Joan and the Youth Club.

Cost of the magazine

In 1996 the cost of the magazine had risen to 30p, with quarter page ads at £30 for 12 issues; half page at £60 per issue.  By 2005 the cost had risen to 50p, advertisements were £40 per quarter page and the layout was similar to that today.

In 2016 the cost remains at 50p and advertisements are £45 per quarter page.  There are currently over 70 advertisers and there is a waiting list.  Seven volunteers work at producing what they hope is an interesting and informative magazine which is professionally printed and distributed by an army of volunteers to over 400 subscribers (as well as it being available around the village) – and the magazine periodically donates money to local good causes such as the Primary School, the almshouses and the church.

Contents of the magazine include church services and information about church groups and events, Neighbourhood Watch report, flight path update, farmers’ market, local information and contact  numbers. Other regular features about village activities include the flower show, annual fete, antiques fair, school events, summer concerts and other ‘one-off’ events.

A copy of each newsletter will be kept on this living archive but copies of earlier magazines can be obtained by contacting Maggie Atkins on penshurstarchive@gmail.com.

 

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This page was added on 13/03/2016.

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