CN Group

CN Group Ltd is an independent local media business based in Carlisle (the “CN” used to stand for Cumbrian Newspapers). It publishes a number of daily and weekly newspapers in Cumbria, Northumberland and south-western Scotland, notably the News & Star and the North West Evening Mail.

History

CN Group’s origins date back to 1815 and the foundation of The Patriot, or, Carlisle and Cumberland Advertiser, which in 1910 merged with the company’s subsequently established title The East Cumberland News to become The Cumberland News.

Cumbrian Newspapers Limited was founded in 1866. A year later John Burgess joined the company and became its Editor in 1868. The Burgess family remain closely involved in the company; John’s great-grandson Robin is its current Chief Executive.

The twentieth century saw further expansion with the founding of the News & Star and the acquisition of newspapers elsewhere in Cumbria, Northumberland (the Hexham Courant) and, in the final year of the century, Dumfriesshire (the Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser).

The company was incorporated in its present form in 1985 under the name Cumbrian Newspapers Group (Holdings) Limited, dropping the “(Holdings)” later that year, and then assuming its present name four years later (to reflect its media interests beyond newspapers).

Divisions

Scotland

• Eskdale and Liddesdale Newspapers Limited

England: North East

• J. Catherall & Co. (Printers), Limited

England: North West

• Cumbrian Newspapers Limited
• Furness Newspapers Limited

CN Group’s newspapers listed alphabetically