Our History
1997 - In the beginning
The Downs Mail started life as an eight-page newspaper known as the Bearsted Mail in April, 1997. It was circulated every month to more than 12,000 houses and businesses in East Maidstone - covering Bearsted, Madginford, Downswood, Otham, Senacre, Shepway, Thurnham, Detling, Grove Green, Vinters, Boxley, Sandling, Weavering and Willington. By September it had grown to 12 pages, by Christmas to 16. Readers liked the newspaper for its local news --and this was bringing good results for advertisers. They particularly liked the high-quality editorial/advertising features when advertisers worked closely with experienced journalists.
Early 1998 - Its influence grows
It grew quickly and by January 1998 was retitled the Bearsted & Downs Mail to reflect the wider area of coverage, which now included Penenden Heath, Hollingbourne and Leeds villages. About 15,000 households and businesses were receiving the newspaper every month. By March the first regular sports pages were appearing and the paper grew to 24 pages. Parish councils appreciated the significance of the newspaper reaching all parish households every month - and started sponsoring pages or half-pages for regular coverage of parish councils and news.
Late 1998 - Title changes to DOWNS MAIL
The steady growth of the newspaper continued and as it spread into Maidstone town the publishers decided the title should reflect its wider influence. In September 1998 it became known as the DOWNS MAIL. In the same month the privately-owned publishing company, Mail Publications Ltd., opened offices at 2, Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, opposite Bearsted and Thurnham Club. The family-run business now had the space to accommodate the first employees - with help for both the editorial and advertising sides. By the end of the year the paper was regularly 32 or 36 pages. Classified advertising was really taking off - local traders had a local medium to reach the local public.
1999 - Traditional local paper takes shape
The Downs Mail was now regularly running at 48 pages and contained all the features of a traditional local newspaper - deep local news coverage, four pages of sport, show page, obituaries page, crime page, church page, local comment page, magistrates' court columns.. This was all possible financially because advertisers liked the newspaper and were getting good responses. Before Christmas the newspaper printers installed a new four-colour press and full colour was now available for advertising and editorial use.
2000 - Birth of a second edition
Growth continued and by the summer the newspaper was usually 56 pages - 24 in full colour now that advertisers were appreciating the extra impact. By the autumn a second edition of the Downs Mail was produced - to cover the whole of the Weald of Kent in Maidstone Borough. This completely separate edition covers about 15,000 private and business addresses through Royal Mail distribution in: Headcorn, Staplehurst, Marden, Yalding, Collier Street, Hunton, Sutton Valence, Chart Sutton, East Sutton, Kingswood, Boughton Monchelsea, Linton, Coxheath, East and West Farleigh, Langley. At the same time coverage of the first edition of the Downs Mail (now known as the East Downs edition) was spread to give Royal Mail distribution also in Hollingbourne, Leeds, Harrietsham. Ulcombe, Broomfield and Lenham - a total of about 18,000 addresses for the edition. Total distribution of the Downs Mail has grown to about 33,000 addresses all in the Borough of Maidstone, well in excess even of the Kent Messenger circulation in the Borough of Maidstone. The Downs Mail is a NEWSY newpaper - many readers say they always read it cover to cover - and it now makes a strong challenge as the most influential newspaper in Maidstone Borough.
2001 - Now a website - and the Jade Bridge campaign
By early 2001 the Downs Mail launched its own website - and this helped support a massive Downs Mail campaign for a pedestrian bridge to be built over the A249 at Detling after the death of eight-years-old Jade Hobbs and her gran as they crossed the hectic road to buy sweets in the village. The campaign was very successful - raised more than £100,000 from the public to help fund the project and Kent County Council soon responded to all the public pressure and announced the bridge would be built.
2002 - Town edition is launched - and honours flow
By late spring the Downs Mail launched its biggest edition - to cover the urban town of Maidstone. This was 31,000 copies - meaning the Downs Mail now covered practically every private and business address in the Borough of Maidstone with a total of 63,000 copies, reaching more addresses by far than any other newspaper in the Borough. This too was an immediate success with readers and advertisers. Honours started coming the Downs Mail’s way. Editor Dennis Fowle became Kent campaigning journalist of the year for the Jade Bridge campaign at Detling - and the newspaper won Maidstone Neighbourhood Watch’s annual award for its contribution to its fight against crime in the area - the first time the cup did not go to a Watch co-ordinator.
2003 - 2005 The years of consolidation
The Downs Mail continued to grow in size and strength - due to its comprehensive coverage of Maidstone Borough both in distribution and news. It entered a partnership with Maidstone Borough Council to launch the Maidstone Means Business awards - highlighting the achievement of businesses big and small in the area. The Mail also launched a year-long campaign to support of the Heart of Kent Hospice as it faced a difficult financial period.
2006 New glossy magazine & Maidstone Borough Council approval Downs Mail moved in to glossy publications with successful seasonal specials circulated widely in Mid Kent. Maidstone Borough Council selected the Downs Mail to include its bi-monthly eight-page newsletter, Borough Update, now the newspaper reaches more than 65,000 addresses, just about every one in the borough.