EASTERN ANGLE Cambridgeshire - Essex - Hertfordshire - Huntingdonshire - Lincolnshire - Norfolk - Suffolk Volume 10 March 2010 No

10 /1 ISSN 1470-2037 Suffolk - Norfolk - Lincolnshire - Huntingdonshire - Hertfordshire - Essex - Cambridgeshire EASTERN ANGLE Cambridgeshire - Essex - Hertfordshire - Huntingdonshire - Lincolnshire - Norfolk - Suffolk Volume 10 March 2010 No. 1 Bulletin Editor Barry R Reynolds 74 Edgecomb Road STOWMARKET Suffolk IP14 2DW Tel: +44 (0)1449/613319 Mobile 07950427905 E-mail [email protected] Website: www.freewebs.com/eaphsc Stowmarket Carnival Jubilee Mail

March 2010

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 / 2 EAST ANGLIAN POSTAL HISTORY STUDY CIRCLE President Chairman Vice Chairman Paul Green John W J Copeland Gerald Daldry

Secretary Treasurer Auctioneer Peter Day Barry Reynolds Peter Day 17 Heywood Road 74 Edgecomb Road 17 Heywood Road DISS STOWMARKET DISS IP22 4DJ IP14 2DW IP22 4DJ Tel: 01379 643907 Tel: 01449 613319 Tel: 01379 643907

Table of Contents Stowmarket Carnival Jubilee Mail 1 Table of Contents 2 Date of Next Meeting 2 Editor / Treasurer Notes 2 Roundup of Postal News of East Anglia 3 Office Closures and Openings 4 Condition 9 Access Mail 5 Registration Labels for East Anglian Bases in WW II 6 Newport / Saffron Walden Cancel Query 8 Stowmarket Bag Label 9 EAPHSC Stock Items 9 New Post Office at Hitchin 1962 10 Manningtree & its Sub-Offices – Part 3. 11 Sub-Office Datestamps of Norfolk – Parts 29, 30 &31 18 Date of Next Meeting March 13th 2010. Annual General Meeting and ‘Bring & Buy’. Your opportunity to dispose of your surplus material with immediate gains and to perhaps find the elusive items you have been searching for. Please give some thought to volunteering for the post of Secretary. Also required are your ideas for the season’s programme, dates, and meeting venues. This meeting will be held at the Community Education Centre, Childer Road, Stowmarket IP14 1PP. Please arrive at 2pm for a prompt 2.30pm start.

Editor / Treasurer Notes First the bad news: I am very sorry to have to report that one of our long standing members, John Harrison, died either after or during a holiday in Tenerife in early January or late December. I invite anybody who knew John to provide an obituary for publication in our next issue. Our condolences go to John’s wife and family. Now the good news: We congratulate long standing member Alistair Kennedy on his elevation to Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London. A sincere welcome to new member Ron Elbourne of Wetherden, near Stowmarket. Ron’s area of study is around Mid Suffolk.

I have to apologise to those who sought to see Eastern Angle on the website in pdf format, Unfortunately the link was broken resulting in an inability to see the file. Hopefully by the time you read this all will be well and members will be able to see the publication in full colour and print off a copy if required! The December issue I have uploaded as a Microsoft .doc file. I will be pleased to receive members’ observations on the two types of file as the .doc is much larger than the .pdf file.

Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 /3 Roundup of Postal News of East Anglia Contributed by David Taylor Smith and Ed. GENERAL Mail on Sunday 23.08.09. The pedalling postie looks set to go the same way as many village post offices and the early morning delivery. . . into the history books. Royal Mail is to phase out nearly all of the 25,000 British-made bikes used by postmen and women across the country because they can’t carry enough mail or travel far enough. Instead, postmen and women will be expected to travel to their patches in vans – and deliver their letters and parcels from trolleys made in China. Unions fear the move is a precursor to Royal Mail closing local delivery centres and cutting the hours of staff. The £450 bikes are still used on a quarter of routes – but under the new plan only 500 will survive. They are made by Stratford-upon-Avon-based firm Pashley Cycles, which has supplied them since 1971. A spokesman for Pashley said: ‘We expect our arrangement with Royal Mail to end imminently’. Royal Mail thinks the bicycles are ineffective because postmen sometimes have to do several rounds to deliver all the mail. Under the plan, being tested in Cambridge, Plymouth, Durham and Lincoln, up to three postmen will deliver mail across a wide area before driving their van to another location. It will mean workers will no longer have to return to base to collect more items but could also signal the end of neighbourhoods having their own dedicated postman. Some postmen will be given a four-wheel pull-along trolley, while others on rounds with steep hills will get battery-powered ones. It is believed that Royal Mail will extend the scheme nationwide, although some postmen will be allowed to keep bicycles on rural routes.

ESSEX Braintree & Witham Times 12/11/09. A public consultation is taking place to reopen Orsett Post Office. The post office at 10 High Road, Orsett was closed on 20th August this year because the postmaster resigned. A six week consultation process started on Wednesday, 11th November and closes on Wednesday, 23rd December The consultation proposes new opening hours for the post office from 6am to 9.30pm. The proposal includes the change of location to 41 High Road in Orsett, 150 yards away from the previous one. Customers will experience extended opening hours and a wider entrance for anyone with mobility constraints.

Essex County Standard 15.11.09. Pownell Crescent TSO (32 Berechurch Road) which was shut under a nationwide review is to reopen at the end of the month. The branch, in Colchester, was one of five to be closed in the area as the Government sought to reduce subsidies. Defiant councillor Dave Harris lead the protests against the closure - and is now jumping for joy that the post office will be reopened. Mr Harris, who collected more than 1,000 signatures against the post office being axed, said: "I am absolutely over the moon and am so glad that Essex County Council has listened to public opinion and worked to reopen this post office." The post office will be run from Hitesh Stores and Newsagents by Harendra Patel, whose father Arvind previously ran it.

NORFOLK Eastern Daily Press 11.11.09. Beeston Post Office which was successfully saved by residents last year was closed ‘temporarily’ on Thursday 5th November ‘following an audit’. Debbie Noakes and her husband and parents have run the PO Stores for the past 13 years.

Norwich Evening News 03.09.09. Poringland Post Office, in Shotesham Road, closed suddenly last week due to “circumstances beyond the control of Post Office Ltd”. The branch, which also doubles as the Poringland Shopper store, is still closed, with no word on whether it would be reopening any time soon. Caroline Milton, parish council March 2010

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 / 4 clerk, said they only received notice of the post office closure yesterday but had not been told anything else.“ Following the sudden closure of the post office on Friday, a spokesman said: “We understand that the people of Poringland will be concerned about the future of post office services in their area. Customers can be assured that we will be able to continue to work hard to find a solution that will provide a post office presence in the area”.

04.09.09. Former subpostmaster of a Poringland Post Office which has closed without warning is offering to step in to run the business once more. But Abdul Basit, who was subpostmaster between 2006 and 2007 but left in controversial circumstances, said he wanted to take control again to make sure the village was not left without a vital resource. Mr Basit said his contract as subpostmaster had been terminated by Post Office Limited at the end of 2007.

29.09.09. Spixworth Post Office closed its doors early last Tuesday afternoon without an explanation or warning and has not opened again since. The mystery closure left families in the village stunned and today Reverend Andrew Beane, vicar of Spixworth, Crostwick, and Horsham St Faiths, has called for an explanation as to why Spixworth is still without a post office. A Post Office spokeswoman said: “We're very sorry that this post office has temporarily closed for reasons beyond our control and we are working hard to find a solution as we are committed to continue providing post office services to our customers in the area."

23.10.09. People in a village north of Norwich who are fighting for the return of their post office have collected 1000 signatures on a petition in just over a week. Spixworth Post Office shut suddenly without notice on Tuesday, 22nd September Since then pensioners have been forced to travel several miles to the nearest post offices in Norwich, Newton St Faiths or Coltishall. A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “We are committed to reopen it, and we will restore services there as soon as possible. The closure was not something that we wanted to happen.” Norwich Crown Court heard on Monday that subpostmistress Tara Murphy stole more than £11,000 from the post office over a period of a year. Murphy, of Crostwick Lane, Spixworth, admitted theft from the post office. She was jailed for eight months, suspended for a year, and ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work. She was also made to pay £350 towards prosecution costs.

SUFFOLK Eastern Anglian Daily Times 19.09.2009. Beck Row Post Office will reopen an essentials service on a trial basis subject to a six-week consultation period. The village, near Mildenhall, has had no local branch since the essentials service at Beck Row Newsagents was discontinued for administrative reasons and due to the fact the owner, Tony Molloy, is hoping to retire soon. He has welcomed the news that the Londis Village Stores - 25 yards away - has agreed to take on the service, subject to the consultation. It would be open from 6am to 9pm Monday - Sunday. The village used to have a full time branch until it was sold off for housing in 2006. Residents in Cavendish, near Sudbury, had been without a service since long-serving postmaster Dick Comwyn decided to retire in June following the death of his wife. It was decided not to continue at the existing premises, where customers had been served for more than 60 years, leaving residents facing journeys of several miles to Glemsford and Clare. But then Helen Tutt, owner of Cavendish Flowers, now on Lower Street, stepped in to save the day. The out-reach service from her shop will be run (22nd October) from 9am to 1pm Monday to Saturday in conjunction with the Long Melford branch. Chris Turner, the clerk of Cavendish Parish Council, who has worked in the Clare Post Office for the past seven years, said: “People have missed the old post office and although the new one will not provide all the services at least it is something for people to pick up their pensions and get money from without travelling outside the village.”

Office Closures and Openings Submitted by Ken Smith who will be pleased to hear of any additions; Ken’s address is 3 St Agatha’s Close, PERSHORE WR10 1DQ.

CLOSURES Lyng, Norwich, Nfk temp 03.01.09 Datchworth, Knebworth, Herts temp 25.08.09 Stibbard, Fakenham, Nofk temp 12.10.09 Fulmodestone, Fakenham, Nfk temp 12.10.09 Tetford, Horncastle, Lincs temp 27.10.09 Audley End, Saffron Walden, Essex temp Nov 09 Great Notley, Braintree, Essex PO Essentials Official date 13.10.09 actual 12.10.09 Sea Lane TSO, Sutton-on-Sea, Mablethorpe, Lincs resignation 24.12.09 Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 /5 REOPENING & CHANGE OF STATUS &c. Bradwell, Great Yarmouth, Nfk closed 17.07.97 reopened at Premier Store 15.10.09 Allnuts TSO, Epping, Essex closed 08.02.08 Essex CC negotiates with POLtd opened 23.11.09 Location of Mobile Post Offices courtesy of the Post Office Vehicle Club Christchurch – Dun Mow car park, Green Lane, Christchurch, Wisbech PE14 9PG – Mon - Fri 1445–1545. Over – Village Green, Willingham Road, Over, Cambs CB24 5PD – Mon – Fri 1100–1400. Welney – Lamb & Flag pub car park, Main Street, Welney, Wisbech PE14 9RB – Mon, Tue, Fri 1400-1430; Tue & Thurs 1345-1430. Great Gidding – Chapel End, Great Gidding, Huntingdon PE28 5NP – Mon – Fri 0930–1130. Holme – outside old PO, Station Rd, Holm Peterborough PE7 3PH - (no times) Upper Dean – layby outside Pantiles, High St, Upper Dean, Huntingdon PE28 0ND – Mon 1345-1445; Wed 1140-1240. Anwick – layby River Ln, Anwick, Sleaford SL34 9SP – Mon 1415-1615; Tue & Thu 0830-1000; Wed 1400-1600; Fri 1500-1630. Belchford – layby outside St Peter’s Church, Horncastle LN9 6LQ – Tue 1200-1300; Thu 1145-1245. Buckminster – layby on Main St, The Crescent (No12), Buckminster, Grantham NG33 5SE – Mon 1345-1645; Wed 0900-1200. Castle Bytham – layby on High St (No7), Castle Bytham, Grantham NG33 4RZ – Mon & Thu 0900-1230; Tue & Fri 1415-1715. Haltham – Marmion Arms car park, Main Rd, Halthan, Horncastle LN9 6JQ – Tue & Thu 1030-1130. Little Steeping – The Eaves Inn layby, Main Rd, Little Steeping PE23 5BL – Mon 1215-1315; Fri 1145-1245. New Leake – V Hall cpark, Spilsby Rd, New Leake, Boston PE22 8JT – Mon 0900-1200; Tue 1500-1630; Wed & Fri 0900-1130; Thu 1500-1700. South Witham stop 1 – layby High St (opp 20b), South Witham, Grantham NG33 5QB – Tue 0830-1030; Wed 1315-1615; Fri 1045-1300. South Witham stop 2 – layby outside Savermore, Great Cl, South Witham, Grantham NG33 5QH – Tue 1045-1300; Fri 0830-1030. Beachamwell – fron of 2 Old Hall Rd, Beachamwell, Swaffham, PE37 8BA – Mon, Wed, Fri 1100-1145; Tue, Thu 1100-1200. Nordelph – High St, Nordelph, Downham Market PE38 0BL – Tue & Thu 1300-1330. Wereham – War Memorial, Church Rd, Wereham, King’s Lynn PE33 3QG – Mon, Wed, Fri 75mins! Wimbotsham – The Chequers pub cpark, 7 Church Rd Wimbotsham, King’s Lynn PE34 3QG – Mon – Fri 0845-1045. Gislingham – Broadfield Close, Gislingham, Eye IP23 8HY – Mon-Fri 1130-1330. Nacton – George Court cpark, George Court, The Street, Nacton, Ipswich IP10 0EU – Mon – Fri 0830-1030. Waldringfield – V Hall cpark, School Rd, Waldringfield, WoodbridgeIP12 4QP – Mon, Wed, Fri 1100-1300.

OUTREACH Catworth Mobile, Huntingdon: Mobile will be in the car park of the Racecourse Inn, not the V.Hall.

Condition 9 Access Mail

I received a letter, on 14th November 2009, from the subscriptions department of Computer Shopper magazine with the illustrated handstamp. The main text and frame are in blue with the date in red.

Access Mail is where Royal Mail has made an agreement with a private postal service such as UK Mail (the first user from 10th February 2004) to deliver their pre-sorted mail “the last mile”. The charge to UK Mail at that time was 13p per letter under 60g. The service was for business mailings of 4,000 or more items already sorted into 121 postcode areas or Delivery Offices and delivered by the customer to 73 inward Mail Centres. The standard service is for delivery within two working days.

Presumably the envelope shown was, for some reason, incorrectly sorted or delivered by City Link to the incorrect Mail Centre. You will, no doubt, have noticed that there are now a number of different private mail companies taking advantage of this service which penetrates the Royal Mail monopoly.

March 2010

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 / 6 Registration Labels for East Anglian Bases in WW II By GHR Homer-Wooff:

Introduction As early as 1840, a Mr Tennant submitted essays to Roland Hill for registered labels but the first country to issue them in 1870 was Prussia, followed by Sweden in 1874. Official P.O registered envelopes had a large ‘R’ from 1881 which from 1883 was surrounded by an oval. Labels of this design were issued from 1891 and from 1896 included the words "Fee Paid" underneath the oval. The labels we know today were not adopted until 1907, when four types were issued in sheets of 50- The numbers 1-250 for offices with up to 10,000 items per annum (ipa): 1-2500 up to 100,000: 1-15,000 up to 400,000 ipa. The perforations between the labels varies from 11 to 15 per inch. Coil labels can be found with imperforated edges from Oct.1929.

Label Types:

A]- Head Office name: for offices handling over 3,000 ipa. B]- Head Office name: followed by a number for Sub Offices with over 3,000 ipa. C]- Head Office name: followed by a line for manual insertion. D]- Large sheet label: at right until 1910 then at left: Nos 1-50 & 51 to 100. For use at rural offices and temporary post offices at exhibitions, shows & emergency usage etc.

Type A Type B Type C

Military Bases were categorised in a similar fashion to their civilian counterparts. Type D Class A bases -- handled all mail - registered and ordinary. Class B bases -- handled only registered mail. Class C bases -- had a station mailroom only and all mail was handled by the local civilian office, receiving their type of label.

The labels used on base were type A or D but with various modifications: The station names can be found in various sizes, upper / lower case lettering, 1, 2 or 3 lines etc. Type D labels have been seen written in manuscript, with rubber datestamps and single/double ring datestamps.

1: Cambridgeshire / Northamptonshire (N). base-wording type Details BASSINGBOURN: A Near Whaddon- USAAF arrived 1942 with B 17s: their luxury set up was RAF called the "Country Club" in comparison with the RAF. Closed 1970. BOURN: RAFPO A Satellite of Oakington: by 1941 had Mosquitoes with "Oboe"- [dots/dashes used to navigate] closed 1948. Operational Stations were awarded Satellites a few miles away, where non ops aircraft & stores could be dispersed: Often they were upgraded to Stations themselves as the demands grew during the War.

Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 /7 CASTLE CAMPS: A Windswept bleak area: work began 1939- satellite of Debden/N.Weald:- RAFPO 1942 -Mosquitoes: 1944-Spitfires: closed 1946. DUXFORD RAF A Opened 1919- first Spitfire Sqd. in 1938 - Battle of Britain-(BoB)- 1940 RAFPO Czech Hurricane Sqd: 1943 USAAF: first jet Sqd. of ‘Meteors’ in 1947. Now Imperial War Museum HINTON-IN- A 1940-44 - Satellite of Bicester- Bombers. HEDGES: (N) - RAFPO LITTLEPORT: RAF D/10 5 miles NE Ely: Had `Romney' huts for wards-now Princess of Wales Hospital m/s Hospital. (m/s ‘LITTLEPORT’) OAKINGTON RAF ? Built 1939 - open 1940 - a Junkers Ju 88 belly-landed packed with cameras RAFPO which were put into Spitfires to photograph Cologne. SILVERSTONE (N) A 1943-46: Wellingtons. Famous motor racetrack RAFPO TEMPSFORD. RAF A On the border with Beds.- opened 1941 - Secret home of the Special Duties Station/ PO Sqds that dropped SOE agents & supplies into Europe. Ops status ended in Oct.1947. WATERBEACH: A Opened in 1941 – Wellingtons – Stirlings – Lancasters - after War – Swifts RAF – Meteors - Hunters. Now used by the Army. RAFPO WITTERING (N) A 1916 - No.l Training Depot + No.5 at Collyweston = RAF Wittering. CAMP RAFPO Fighters-Demons, Hurricanes, Blenheim & Spitfires: Today Harrier base.

A Registered cover from Wittering Camp R.A.F. P.O. Peterborough. Single ring 25th July 1944 cancelling postage of 5 ½ d (2 ½ + 3d registration) manuscript ‘Posted out of course / 3d surcharge’. Postage Due labels cancelled ‘Sutton Coldfield’ 26th.

WRATTLING Opened May 1943: ‘West Wickham’ to locals.- Stirlings – Lancasters - COMMON: RAFPO closed 1946. RAF/PO CAMBRIDGE

March 2010

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2. ESSEX

CHIGWELL ‘3’- A 1939 – 43 - barrage balloon protection for N. London. Training for Mobile Air Traffic Control for ‘D’ Day: closed 1958. DEBDEN RAFPO / A Opened 1937 – fighters - USAAF 1942/45: then RAF. RAFPO RAF EARLSCOLNE A One of first built by US Army: USAAF - 1942.- B 17s / B26s-- RAF RAFPO Halifaxs. GREAT DUNMOW A Built by US Army 1943: USAAF B26s: RAF 1944 - 45: Stirlings with RAFPO Horsa gliders. HORNCHURCH A Used in WW1: reopened 1928: Fighters. Battle of Britain - closed 1962. RAF D/37 RAFPO m/s m/s ‘RAF / HORNCHURCH / 11 8’ ??? NORTH WEALD A Used in WW1 by RFC: Fighters - Battle of Britain: RAF left in 1964. RAF RIVENHALL A Opened 1943: USAAF with Mustangs / Marauders: RAF 1944: Stirlings + RAFPO Horsas and supply to resistance in occupied countries.

3. HUNTINGDONSHIRE ALCONBURY RAF A Satellite of WYTON-Bombers: USAAF-42/45: Station. BRAMPTON A Adjacent to Alconbury; USAAF 42 / 45: GRANGE Huntingdon ‘5’ GRAVELEY RAF PO A Satellite of Tempsford: - 1942 - 46: Bombers: Mosquitos with 4,000lb Huntingdon. ‘cookie’: Experiments with FIDO (Fog Dispersal). LT STAUGHTON A 1944 - 45: ‘Pathfinder’ ops: Lancasters. RAFPO UPWOOD RAFPO A Used in WW1 -- re-opened 1937: Bombers.- 1955 - Canberras. RAF Huntingdon RAFPO Huntingdon WARBOYS RAFPO A 2nd satellite of Wyton: 1944 - 46: Bombers: attack on ‘V’ weapon sites in Peenemünde. WYTON RAFPO A Site opened in 1916: RFC training. Bombers: RAFPO Huntingdon - ‘Pathfinder Bennett’ -- University Air Sqds. RAF Station / base. Huntingdon (To be continued with Norfolk and Suffolk)

Newport / Saffron Walden Cancel Query

“Herewith the scan of the items which I gave you as a photocopy at the last meeting. Basically the sender (Stafford May) wants to know the significance of the asterisk in the code above the date. Only seen for NEWPORT under Saffron Walden apparently. Peter Day.”

One possible solution could be a collection between the usual B and C times? However, these codes are also seen in use on 09.09.77 by which date there could have been a correction? Any ideas?

Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

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Stowmarket Bag Label On 29th November 2009 a box containing my Father Christmas outfit was delivered. What intrigued me about this was the contents of the small plastic bag stuck on one corner of the box. In it was a bag label, of the type tied to bags of mail, and underneath the label was a ‘Priority Services Despatch Unit Note’. Illustrated are the items referred to together with the parcel address label. I presume that my parcel was the only item to be delivered to Stowmarket from Pyle, CF33 6BZ and it was therefore not worth using a whole Mail Bag. [All good fun!]

SIGNED FOR BY ……………………………. EAPHSC Stock Items Helicopter Mail 38 pages £2.50 members £2 Continental Mail 96 pages £2.50 members £2 “Royal” Visit by EAPHSC 10pages 50p Undated Circles of Norfolk 290pages £17.00 members £13 All items are plus post and packing Indexes 1962-95 10p Please contact Rodney Pointer at Hall Farm House, Clippesby, 1981-83 10p Great Yarmouth NR29 3BL 1991-93 10p Tel: 01493 369798 email [email protected]

March 2010

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 / 10 New Post Office at Hitchin 1962

Thanks to John Copeland who spotted this notice on EBay, an Internet auction site. Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 /11 Manningtree & its Sub-Offices – Part 3. By Gerald Daldry

Tendring Hundred Show The Show has for many years had a permanent site at Lawford House Park, Manningtree. A special handstamp to celebrate 84 years was produced in 1994. But, because the village of Tendring is nearer Clacton that was the town name that appeared on the datestamp, despite my written protests! The original special handstamp was INCORRECTLY inscribed ‘94 YEARS’ and therefore had to be replaced – as illustrated. Also shown is the Royal Mail mobile stand.

BRADFIELD

1845. WILLIAM THORN Receiver. Population 1841 – 995, 1848. WILLIAM THORN Postmaster. Letters received from Manningtree per foot post at 8am and dispatched at 6.15pm. 1855. GEORGE COCKSEDGE Receiver, Plumber and Glazier. Letters received by foot from Manningtree at 8am and dispatched at 7pm. Population 1851- 994. 1859. CHARLES TWEED Receiver. Letters arrive from Manningtree 8am. Dispatched 7pm. Money Order Office at Manningtree. Railway Station – stationmaster William Bland. 1863. CHARLES TWEED Receiver. Letters from Manningtree 8am. Dispatched 7pm. Population 1861 – 914. Trains stop when required! 1866. CHARLES TWEED Receiver. Letters from Manningtree 8am. Dispatched 7pm.

March 2010

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This photograph was taken of the Post Office in the 1920s. At the door is elderly postmistress Mrs Mary Kerridge. Note the Telephone sign. The Post Office ‘phone No. was 1.

This photograph was taken in 1980 and is as the Post Office is now although the office is now run by Geoff and Sue Sellars.

Geoff and Sue Sellars outside the temporary front to their Post Office / shop in August 2007.

Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

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1870. JOHN SCOTT BACON Receiver, also grocer and draper. Letters from Manningtree 7.45am and dispatched 7pm. Population 1871-864. 1874. JOHN SCOTT BACON Receiver, also grocer and draper. Letters as above. 1878. JOHN SCOTT BACON Receiver, Letters as above. Letters from Manningtree - Population 1881- 812. 1882. MRS MAHALA BACON Receiver and shopkeeper. Letters from Manningtree 7.20am. Dispatched 7pm. Nearest M.O.Office is at Mistley. 1886. MRS MAHALA BACON Receiver. Letters from Manningtree 7.30am Dispatched 7pm. Pillar letter box(Bradfield Heath) cleared 6.30pm, Sundays 8.46am. 1890. MRS MAHALA BACON Receiver. Letters and pillar box as above. Census 1891 – Bradfield Street, George Smith (55) Rural Postman. 1892. MRS MAHALA BACON Receiver. Details as above. Population 1891- 736. 1894. MRS MARY KERRIDGE subpostmistress. Letters arrive from Manningtree 7.10am. Dispatched 7pm. Pillar Letter Box(Heath) cleared 6.30pm Sundays 8.46am. 1898. MRS MARY KERRIDGE subpostmistress. Letters arrive from Manningtree 7am and 12.45pm. Dispatched 12.30 and 7.15pm. Pillar Letter Box(Heath) cleared 12.45 and 6.30pm. Sundays 8.45am. 1902. MRS MARY KERRIDGE subpostmistress. M.O.Savings Bank. Letters arrive from Manningtree 7am and 12.45pm. Dispatched 12.30 and 7.15pm.Sundays dispatched 9.40am. Pillar Letter Box(Heath) cleared 12.45 and 6.30pm. Sunday 8.45am. Population 1901 - 730. 1903. Letter Box(Station) cleared 12.15 and 7.25pm. Sundays 9.45am. 1906. MRS MARY KERRIDGE subpostmistress M.O., T.O., T.M.O. Savings Bank, Parcel Post, Letters arrive 7am 12.45pm Sundays 7.15am. Dispatched 12.30 and 7.15pm. Sundays 9.40am. Pillar Box(Heath) cleared 12.45 and 6.30pm. Sundays 7.45am. Pillar Box (Station) cleared 12.15 and 7.25pm. Sundays 9.45am. 1908. MRS MARY KERRIDGE subpostmistress. Letters arrive 7am and 12.45pm. Dispatched 12.30 and 7.15pm. Sundays 9.40am. Pillar Box (Heath) cleared 12.45 and 6.30pm Sunday 8.30am. Pillar Box(Station) cleared 12.15 and 7.25pm Sunday 10am. 1910. MRS MARY KERRIDGE subpostmistress Letters arrive 7am 12.45pm Sundays 7.15am. Dispatched 12.40 and 7.15pm. Sundays 9.40am. Pillar Box (Heath) cleared 1.05 and 6.30pm. Sunday 8.30am. Pillar Letter Box(Station) cleared 12.25 and 7.25pm. Sundays 10am. 1912. MRS MARY KERRIDGE subpostmistress, Letters as above. Pillar Letter Box (Heath) as above. Pillar Letter Box (Station) as above. Letter Boxes(Wix Road) cleared 11.55am and 7pm. Sunday 9.15am. Letter Box(Bradfield St) cleared 7.25am, 12.30 and 6.40pm. Sunday 8am. 1914. MRS MARY KERRIDGE subpostmistress. Letters arrive 7am and 12.30pm. Sunday 7.15am. Dispatch 12.40 and 7.15pm. Sunday 9.40am. Pillar Letter Box (Heath) cleared 1145, 6.30pm. Sunday 8.30am. Pillar Letter Box(Station) 12.15 and 7.25pm. Sunday 10am. Letter Box(Bradfield St) cleared 12.30 and 6.30pm. Sunday 8am. Population 1911 - 758. 1917. MRS MARY KERRIDGE subpostmistress No details given.

An undated circular handstamp was issued to Bradfield on 29th September 1851. I have no record of its use.

Two rubber datestamps were issued, one in 1888 and the other in 1895. I have no record of the use of either issue. BRADFIELD / date/ MANNINGTREE

Bra4

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By 1904 a 23mm single circle without code or time was in use. I have it recorded from 1904 until 1921. BRADFIELD / time / date / ESSEX

Bra5

By 1906 another 23mm single circle datestamp was in use with time included and recorded until 1918. Times recorded: 9.45AM, 12.45PM, 7.15PM. BRADFIELD / time / date / ESSEX

Bra6 By 1979 a double circle datestamp was in use. It had short thick Bra7 arcs and was without time or code. By 1997 in was in use with codeB. BRADFIELD / date / MANNINGTREE ESSEX

BRANTHAM The first photo shows Brantham Post Office in 1913 situated in the first house on the left. It eventually moved into the first house on the right, where it remained until closure 22nd May 1981.

1857. British Postal Guide. Post Office 4 miles from Manningtree. Rubber stamps issued 21.11.1894 and 05.04.1904. 1888. MISS MARY ANN BUSH postmistress and shopkeeper. Letters from Manningtree 8am, dispatched 6.40pm. Wall box at Cattawade cleared at 7.20pm weekdays. 1891 Census. MARY ANN BUSH (53) postmistress and Mary Ann Bird (35). Samuel Welham (14) Post errand boy. [54 New Village]. 1892. MISS MARY ANN BUSH subpostmistress. Letters from Manningtree 8am and 6.40pm. Wall box Cattawade cleared 7.20pm weekdays. 1903. MISS MARY ANN BUSH subpostmistress, also Postal Orders. Letters from Manningtree 8am and 6.30pm. Dispatched 9am and 6.45pm, Sundays 9.30am. Wall box near Church cleared at 9.15am and 7pm, Sundays 9.50am. Wall box Catterwade cleared at 9.30am, 12.15 and 7.15pm, Sundays 10am. Population 1901 – 843.

Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 /15 Below is a photo taken on 29th February 1996 the day that Brantham Post Office reopened in Spar Stores, Acacia Court, Pippins Estate.

An undated circular handstamp is recorded in use in 1857 but not seen here.

Two rubber datestamps were issued. The first issued in 1894 but I have no record of its use. BRANTHAM / date / MANNINGTREE

A further rubber datestamp was issued in 1904. The example here is in purple used on the day of issue. BRANTHAM / date / MANNINGTREE

By 1913 a 24mm single circle was in use without time or code but using an asterisk. It was still in use in the 1930s. BRANTHAM / asterisk / date / MANNINGTREE

Later a double circle with short thick arcs was in use and is illustrated used on the day of closure in 1981. BRANTHAM / code / date / MANNINGTREE ESSEX

In 1996, on reopening, a 24mm single circle was introduced using code. BRANTHAM / code / date / MANNINGTREE

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CATTAWADE

The Post Office, in the early 1900s, was situated at Martin’s the butchers, as shown above. The photo below shows the scene around 1913 when the office had been moved further up the street.

A rubber datestamp was issued on 15th September 1890 but I have no record of its use. CATTAWADE / date / MANNINGTREE

By 1904 a 22mm single circle datestamp was in use as a forwarding and receiving datestamp using code A. CATTAWADE / code / date

Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

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By 1907 the 22mm datestamp was being used to cancel mail with all examples noted using code C. It was still in use in 1921. CATTAWADE / code / date

Later a double circle datestamp with short thick arcs with Code B was in use and is illustrated here used in 1979. CATTAWADE / code / date / MANNINGTREE ESSEX

At the time of closure a 24mm single circle was in use and is illustrated on the day of closure. CATTAWADE / code / date / MANNINGTREE

1903. ALBERT EDWARD MARTIN subpostmaster, grocer and draper. Letters from Manningtree 6.45am, 12.30 and 5.55pm. Dispatched at 9.40am, 12.40 and 7.25pm. Sundays 10.10am.

The Post Office remained at the same site until its closure on 28th February 1969, as shown here together with the closure notice stuck on the wallbox.

HORSLEY CROSS The Post Office operated from the School House, opposite the Church, and closed in 1927. Information supplied by Mike Scurrel, local historian, by Gwen Ainger – 90 years old in July 2008 – who remembers the office closing when she was 9 years old! The issue of a rubber datestamp is recorded for 22nd May 1905. I have no knowledge of its use nor of any subsequent issues. 1905. Rubber datestamp issued June 1905. 1908. SAMUEL GRIMWADE subpostmaster. Letters from Manningtree 8am, dispatched 9.10am and 5.55pm. 1910. SAMUEL GRIMWADE subpostmaster. Letters arrive 8am, 12.30 and 6pm. No Sunday delivery. 1912. SAMUEL GRIMWADE subpostmaster. Letters dispatched 7.15pm, not 6pm. 1914. SAMUEL GRIMWADE subpostmaster. Letters arrive 8am and delivery to callers only at 12.15 and 6.45pm. Dispatched 8am, 12.30 and 7.15pm. 1917. SAMUEL GRIMWADE subpostmaster. No other details.

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PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 / 18 1927. SAMUEL GRIMWADE subpostmaster (Bob?) subpostmaster when the office closed its business from the School House. After the closure Mr Grimwade was employed by a local farmer, Champness of Mistley. Mrs Grimwade was the school mistress and the school was held in the Church building as it was only partly consecrated.

Sub-Office Datestamps of Norfolk – Parts 29, 30 &31 By R E F Pegg HOLT BACONSTHORPE 1864 T. Rump, receiver. Letters dispatched at 2.30pm. 1892 Frederic Merton Webb, receiver. Letters arrive from Dereham by messenger from Holt R.S.O. at 8.15am; dispatched at 4.15pm. No post on Sundays. Holt is the nearest money order & telegraph office. Postal orders are issued here, but not paid. BACONSTHORPE/DEREHAM 07.07.1891 B 22 x 2 ¼s D 19 x 2 ¼

BAYFIELD 1864 None. 1892 Letters through Dereham. Cley is the nearest money order & telegraph office.

BODHAM 1864 None. 1892 Robert Gamble Payne, receiver. Letters from Holt RSO arrive at 9am; dispatched at 3.40pm week days only. Holt is the nearest money order & telegraph office. BODHAM/DEREHAM 14.03.1893 B 20 ½ x 2 ½ D 19 ½ x 2 ½ BODHAM/HOLT S.O./NORFOLK 16.01.1907 V B 16 ½ x 2 ¼ H 19 x 2 ¼ N 18 ½ x 2 ¼ BODHAM/HOLT/NORFOLK 28.05.1912 02.11.1917 B B 20 x 2 ½ H 14 x 3 N 18 x 2 ½ BODHAM/HOLT/NORFOLK 08.08.1919 B B 18 x 2 ½ H 11 ½ x 3

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PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 /19 N 18 x 2 ½ BODHAM/HOLT/NORFOLK 06.08.1921 21.06.1922 B B 20 ½ x 3 ½ H 20 ½ x 3 ¼ N 21 ½ x 3 ¼

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PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 / 20 HEMPSTEAD 1864 None. 1892 John Neal, receiver. Letters from Holt R.S.O. arrive at 7.35am; dispatched at 4.50pm. No mail on Sunday. The nearest money order & telegraph office is Holt. HEMPSTEAD/DEREHAM 14.03.1893 H 22 ½ x 2 ½ D 19 ½ x 2 ¾ HEMPSTEAD/HOLT/NORFOLK 25.09.1912 12.10.1912 VG H 17 ½ x 3 H 15 ½ x 3 ½ N 18 ½ x 2 ½ HEMPSTEAD/HOLT/NORFOLK 31.07.1913 09.09.1914 B H 17 ½ x 3 H 15 ½ x 3 ½ N 18 ½ x 2 ½

HOLT 1864 Thomas Frost, postmaster. Money order & savings bank, letters dispatched to Thetford by mail cart at 4.19pm and they arrived at 7.45am. 1892 Samuel Critoph Clare, postmaster. Money order & telegraph office, savings bank & Annuity & Insurance office. (Railway Sub-Office - Letters should have R.S.O. added). Letters are received from Dereham at 6.25am & Norwich 9.55 & 4.30pm & are dispatched via Norwich 11.15am, Dereham 5.30pm & Peterborough 7.15pm. Sundays, received at 6.25am; dispatched, via Dereham at 5.30pm.

KELLING 1864 None. 1892 Letters trough Holt R.S.O. arrive about 8am. Wall letter box , cleared at 3.50pm week days only. No Sunday post. Holt is the nearest money order & telegraph office.

LANGHAM 1864 John Massingham, receiver. Letters dispatched at 1.45pm. 1892 Thomas Boast, subpostmaster. Letters received from Dereham at 9am & dispatched at 4pm week days. The nearest money order & telegraph office is Blakeney. Postal orders are issued, but not paid. LANGHAM/DEREHAM 24.04.1891 L 19 x 2 ¼ D 19 x 2 ½ LANGHAM/BLAKENEY/NORFOLK 01.09.1913 B L 18 ½ x 2 ¼ B 19 x 2 N 18 x 2 LANGHAM/BLAKENEY/NORFOLK 12.04.1919 B L 22 x 3 ¼ B 19 x 2 ½ N 18 ½ x 2 ½

LETHERINGSETT 1864 John Ainger, receiver. Letters dispatched at 3.30 p m. 1894 Mrs Rosamond Anna Sheringham, receiver. Letters from Holt R.S.O. received at 7.20am; dispatched at 4.45pm. Holt is the nearest money order & telegraph office. Postal orders are issued here, but not paid. LETERINGSETTE/DEREHAM 13.11.1890 L 23 ½ x 2 ½ D 19 ½ x 2 ¼ LETHERINGSETT/DEREHAM 11.01.1895 L 23 ½ x 2 ¼ D 21 x 2 ¼ correct spelling LETHERINGSETT/HOLT S.O./NORFOLK 04.12.1911 11.12.1918 VG L 21 x 2 Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 /21 H 18 ½ x 2 ½ N 17 ½ x 2 It would appear this handstamp was either damaged or misplaced within the post office as the following skeleton was used. LETHERING3SETT HOLT/NORFOLK 28.12.1911 Skeleton There must have been a request for a replacement as the following was used. LETHERINGSETT/HOLT/NORFOLK 10.07.1912 25.11.1912 B L 20 ½ x 1 ¾ H 20 x 2 ½ Serif N 18 x 2 ½ LETHERINGSETT/HOLT/NORFOLK 26.05.1913 VG L 20 ½ x 1 ¾ H 20 x 2 ½ Serif N 18 x 2 ½ This is change of ink colour.

SALTHOUSE 1864 None. 1892 Henry Lewis, receiver. Letters received through Holt R.S.O. about 9.30am & dispatched at 3.30pm. Cley-next-the-Sea is the nearest money order & telegraph office. SALTHOUSE/DEREHAM 14.03.1893 S 22 ½ x 2 ¼ D 19 ½ x 2 ½ SALTHOUSE/HOLT/NORFOLK 05.03.1912 13.08.1913 B S 22 x 2 ¼ H 20 ½ x 2 ¼ Serif N 18 x 2 ¼ SALTHOUSE/HOLT/NORFOLK 21.04.1916 24.06.1926 B S 22 ½ x 2 ¼ H 12 ½ x 3 ½ N 18 ½ x 2 ½ SALTHOUSE/HOLT/NORFOLK 19.08.1917 B S 21 x 2 ½ H 20 ½ x 2 Serif N 19? x 2 ¼

SAXLINGHAM 1864 None. 1892 Letters through Holt RSO arrive about 9.15am; no post on Sundays. Wall letter box cleared at 4.50pm. The nearest money order & telegraph office is at Cley.

SHARRINGTON 1864 None. 1892 Letters through Dereham, via Briningham, by foot post, arrive at 8am. Wall letter box, Cross roads, cleared 4.30pm. Holt is the nearest money order & telegraph office.

WEST BECKHAM 1864 None. 1892 Letter box cleared at 3.30pm. Letters through Holt arrive at 9.30am. Holt is the nearest money order & telegraph office.

WEYBOURNE 1864 John Allen, receiver. Letters dispatched at 2.30pm. Sometimes called Wabourne. 1892 George David John Spink, subpostmaster. Letters arrive from Holt R.S.O. at 8.00am; box closes 4.10pm; no Sunday post. Lower Sheringham is the nearest money order & telegraph office. Postal orders are issued here, but not paid. WEYBOURNE/DEREHAM 22.09.1891 W 22 ½ x 2 ¼ D 19 x 2 ¼

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PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 / 22 HORSHAM ST FAITHS

FRETTENHAM 1864 None. 1892 Samuel Garrett, receiver. Letters received through Norwich, via St Faith's, arrive at 7.30am; dispatched, 4.55pm. Wall box cleared at 4.50pm. The nearest money order & telegraph office is at Coltishall; postal orders are issued here, but not paid. FRETTENHAM/NORWICH 15.07.1890 F 19 ½ x 2 ¾ N 18 x 2 ½ FRETTENHAM/NORWICH 21.07.1913 VG F 22 ½ x 2 ½ N 22 x 3 ½

HAINFORD or HAYNFORD 1864 None. 1892 William Philip Roberts, receiver. Letters arrive from Norwich via St Faith's at 8.20am; dispatched at 4.10pm. Coltishall is the nearest money order & telegraph office. Postal orders are issued here, but not paid. HAYNFORD/NORWICH 09.05.1889 H 20 ½ x 2 ½ N 18 ½ x 2 ½

Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 /23 HAYNFORD/NORWICH 13.08.1913 H 20 ½ x 2 ½ N 21 x 3 HAYNFORD/NORWICH 27.05.1919 10.01.1921 H 19 ½ x 2 ½ N 22 x 3 ½

HORSHAM ST FAITHS 1864 Jas Rice, receiver. Post to Norwich 6pm. 1892 Thomas Fox, subpostmaster. Money order, Licensing & telegraph office, savings bank & Annuity & Insurance Office. Letters arrive by mail cart from Norwich at 4.30am & 6.15p.m.; dispatched at 6.15pm. Letter box, Newton, cleared at 6pm. No Climax dater issued.

NEWTON ST FAITHS 1864 None. 1892 See Horsham above. NEWTON St FAITH'S/NORWICH 24.03.1899 ??.??.1911 V NSF 24 x2 N 22 x 3 NEWTON St FAITH'S/NORWICH 19.08.1914 B NSF 24 x 2 N 22x3 NEWTON St FAITH'S/NORWICH 29.07.1920 B NSF 25 ½ x 3 N 21 ½ x 3 NEWTON St FAITH'S/NORWICH 26.08.1926 B NSF 23 1/ x 2 N 23 x 3

SPIXWORTH 1864 None. 1892 Letters through Norwich arrive 7am. Horsham St Faith's is the nearest money order & telegraph office.

STRATTON STRAWLESS 1864 None. 1892 Letters through Norwich, arrive at 9.30am. The nearest money order & telegraph office is at Buxton; pillar box cleared at 3.45pm; on Sundays at 8.30am. Had a post office later. STRATTON STRAWLESS/NORWICH 14.06.1894 SS 24 ½ x 2 N 19 x 2 ¼ STRATTON STRAWLESS/NORWICH 16.08.1917 VG SS 23 x 1 ½ N 22 x 3 ½

HOVETON ST JOHN

BELAUGH 1864 None. 1892 Letter box cleared at 11.45am & 4.15pm. Letters received from Norwich, via Hoveton, arrive at 7am & 4.15pm. The nearest money order & telegraph office is at Wroxham.

HORNING 1864 Frederick Bone, receiver. Letters dispatched at 4pm.

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PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com 10 / 24 1892 Mrs Lucy Morriss Rope, subpostmistress. Letters through Norwich arrive 7.25am & are dispatched at 3.55pm week days & 11.30am Sundays. The nearest money order office is at Ludham & telegraph office is Woodbastwick. Wall letter box, near the "Half Moon", cleared at 3.25pm. Post office later. HORNING/NORWICH 23.04.1895 H 20 ½ x 2 ¼ N 21 x 2 ¼

HOVETON ST JOHN 1864 Samuel Water, receiver. Letters dispatched to Norwich at 5.15pm. 1892 Edward Jn Ward, subpostmaster. Money order, telegraph office, savings bank & Annuity & Insurance office. Letters through Norwich delivered at 7am & 2.15pm; dispatched at 12.50 & 1.30pm. A wall letter box near the "Black Horse" is cleared at 4.30pm. Sundays at 12 noon. This was also known as the Wroxham office.

HOVETON ST PETER 1864 None. 1892 Letters through Norwich arrive about 8am. The nearest money order & telegraph office is Wroxham, in the parish of Hoveton St John.

WROXHAM 1864 None. 1892 Wroxham post office is in the parish of Hoveton St John; but there is also a post office in this parish (Lower Wroxham) John George Chamberlin, receiver. Letters through Norwich arrive at 8am & 3.15pm; dispatched at 12.15 & 5.15pm. LOWER WROXHAM/NORWICH 31.05.1894 LW 23 ½ x 2 ½ N 18 ½ x 2

(to be continued)

Ó East Anglia Postal History Study Circle

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