THE Morpeth Herald was established on April 1, 1854, by James Mackay the son of a Morpeth tailor. It first appeared monthly with a cover price of one penny and became a weekly on January 9, 1858. In the first edition its founder declared: 'Let it's readers regard it with a friendly eye — reprove its errors in a kindly manner — and promote its circulation in the circle of their acquaintances.'