Victorian London - Communications - Post - Frequency of Postal Deliveries
Victorian London - Communications - Post - Frequency of Postal Deliveries
'Sir -
I believe the inhabitants of London are<br>under the impression that Letters posted for delivery within the metropolitan<br>district commonly reach their destination within, at the outside, three hours of<br>the time of postage. I myself, however, have constantly suffered with<br>irregularities in the delivery of letters, and I have now got two instances of<br>neglect which I should really like to have cleared up.
I posted a letter in the Gray's Inn post<br>office on Saturday at half-past 1 o'clock, addressed to a person living close to<br>Westminster Abbey, which was not delivered till 9 o'clock the same evening; and<br>I posted another letter in the same post office, addressed to the same place,<br>which was not delivered till past 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Now, Sir, why is<br>this? If there is any good reason why letters should not be delivered in less<br>than eight hours after their postage, let the state of the case be understood:<br>but the belief that one can communicate with another person in two or three<br>hours whereas in reality the time required is eight or nine, may be productive<br>of the most disastrous consequences.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
7 May,
K.
letter to the Times, 8 May 1881
Regulations<br>of the Twopenny Post Office.- The principal office is at the General Post<br>Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand There are, besides, upwards of 400 receiving<br>houses for letters, both in town and country. There are seven collections and<br>deliveries of letters in town daily, and five deliveries daily at all places in<br>the environs of London, situate within a circle of three miles' distance from<br>the head establishment in St. Martin's le Grand, that having been determined as<br>the limits of the Post Office. The country delivery, as it is called, extends to<br>a distance of twelve miles from the metropolis, and most places within that<br>limit have four despatches and four deliveries daily (Sundays excepted). The<br>hours by which letters should be put into the receiving houses in town for each<br>delivery are as follow - For delivery in town,
Over night by eight o'clock, for the first delivery.
Morning by eight o'clock, for the second delivery.
Morning by ten o'clock, for the third delivery.
Morning by twelve o'clock, for the fourth delivery.
Afternoon by two o'clock, for the fifth delivery.
Afternoon by four o'clock, for the sixth delivery.
Afternoon by six o'clock, for the seventh delivery. For delivery in the country,
The preceding evening by six o'clock, for the first delivery,
Morning by eight o'clock, for the second delivery.
Morning by twelve o'clock, for the third delivery.
Afternoon by two o'clock, for the fourth delivery.
Mogg's New Picture of London and Visitor's Guide<br>to it Sights, 1844
London is divided into 8 postal districts, in which the number of deliveries<br>varies from 12 to 6 daily, between 7.30 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.
The correct initials of the postal district in<br>addition to the address will ensure the early delivery of a letter.
E.C. Eastern Central. St.<br>Martin's-le-Grand.
W.C. Western Central. 126,<br>Holborn and Charing Cross.
W. Western. 3, Vere-street,<br>Oxford-street.
NW. North Western. 28,<br>Eversholt-st., Camden-Town.
SW. South Western. 8,<br>Buckingham-gate, Pimlico.
SE. South Eastern. 9,<br>Blackman-street, Borough.
E. Eastern. 817,<br>Commercial-road.
N. Northern. 46,<br>Essex-road, Islington.
Take care to post before � to 8, 10, 12, and 2, 4, 6, 8, in<br>one of the Iron Pillar Boxes (first erected 1855) on the kerb stones of the<br>leading thoroughfares.
Letters posted at the Receiving-houses in London before 6 at<br>night are delivered the same evening at all places within a circle of three<br>miles from the General Post Office; or if posted before 5, they are delivered in<br>the environs the same evening.
There is no postal delivery in London on Sundays.
Letters for the night mails out of London must be posted<br>before 5.30 p.m., in pillar boxes and branch offices; at the General Post Office<br>they are received without extra payment as late as 6 p.m.: from 6 to 7 with an<br>extra 1d. stamp; up to 7.15 with an extra 2d. in stamps, up to<br>7.30 with an extra 3d. in stamps, and up to 7.45 with an extra 6d. in<br>stamps.
Letters for the day mails must be posted before 3 am.
Post-cards, �d. for the United Kingdom, and id for<br>abroad, are a very useful means of correspondence.
The rates for postage are 1d. for 1 oz. and under; 1�d.<br>over 1 oz. and under 2 oz., and increasing proportionately �d. for<br>every 2 oz. or part of 2 oz. up to 12 oz.
Newspapers and book-post packets must be left open at the<br>ends. Postage �d. for every 2 oz. or part of 2 oz.
Parcels if not exceeding 1 ft. 6 in. x 9 in. x 6<br>in. may be sent by post at fixed rates.
The following firms deliver parcels in London and the<br>suburbs ; they have numerous fixed houses of call in the several districts.<br>London Parcels Delivery...