Chard Penny Post

Copied from an article by Mike Welch in the September 1993 S&DPHG Journal Volume 3-8.

The Winsham and Thorncombe walk.

In 1824 there was an application from the inhabitants of Winsham and Thorncombe, for a Penny Post from Chard. [1] After investigation, the Surveyor estimated the number of letters involved at about 120 per week, which would more than cover the expenditure. An experimental post was authorised to commence on 6^th November 1824, with a messenger from Chard delivering at Forton, Leigh House, Ford Abbey, Winsham and Thorncombe. [14] The walk operated six days a week, for which the messenger was paid 8/6 a week or £22-3-4 per annum. Receiving Houses were established at Thorncombe, salary £2-2-0 per annum; and at Winsham, where a pair of shopkeepers were willing to perform the duty without pay !

The result of the year's experiment showed an income of £34-7-2 and an expenditure of £25-5-4. [2] (There seems to be a discrepancy of £1 in the expenses). A salary of £2-2-0 per annum was granted to the Winsham receiver, and the service increased to seven days a week, with the messenger's pay rising to 10/6 a week. All the expenses then remained unchanged until after 1840.

In 1833 there was an application from a Mr.Berry, who lived on the outskirts of Thorncombe, for delivery of his letters under the Penny Post. In his report to the P.M.G., Freeling described the operation of the delivery system. [6]

"We are always anxious, and indeed it is our policy, to render our P.P. establishments as convenient as possible to the districts in which they are set up. It is obvious however that if we were to attempt to provide for a delivery at every house in the neighbour-hood of villages it would more than absorb the P.P. Revenue. It has been the practise therefore to fix a boundary for the delivery, keeping the letters at the Receiving House for persons who live beyond that boundary, or sending them out by any mode that may present itself not attended with expence to the Revenue. Upon this principle the letters for parts of the outskirts of Thorncombe, remote from the village, are delivered by a messenger as often as they amount to a sufficient number to remunerate him for taking them up and it is always understood that in such cases the parties may if they prefer it, consider themselves quite independent of the P.P. and procure their letters by their own means from the Post Town. I believe it is esteemed a great accomodation in most instances to have a Post brought into the heart of the district even although there may be no delivery at the scattered houses, and the observation will apply to Thorncombe notwithstanding the present complaint from an individual, which I presume will not induce your Grace to alter the existing arrangements in that quarter."

A sentiment which the P.M.G., Lord Richmond, fully approved.

The Buckland St. Mary walk.

In December 1831 an experimental Penny Post was authorised from Chard to Buckland St.Mary, with a Receiving House at Combe St. Nicholas. [5] The messenger delivered at the hamlets of Crimchard, Chardleigh Green and Wadeford, and dropped off letters at the Combe St.Nicho1as Receiving House.

The messenger was paid 7/- per week, (£l8-5-0 per annum), and the Receiver at Combe St. Nicholas a salary of £4 per annum, being also responsible for the delivery in his village. The annual income was estimated at £23-9-6. I have not found a report on the post being made permanent, but it must have been done as the expenses remained the same until after 1840. [14]

The Yarcombe walk.

In 1828, to improve his postal service, Sir Frayton Drake proposed to the G.P.O. that the village of Yarcombe be served from Yeovil. [3] The suggestion was impractical, but to satisfy him, a Receiving House was established at Yarcombe and made a Penny Post under Honiton. It was necessary for letters to Yarcombe to be endorsed 'Near Honiton'. There was no need to employ a messenger, as a bag made up at Honiton was dropped by the 'Up Mail' passing through the village at 2 o'clock. The report goes on to say "The western letters can also be left at Yarcombe the same day, with few exceptions, by the Blandford Mail."

The relevant Mail Coaches were described in the Journal Vol.1 No.3 Page 6. The London - Salisbury - Shaftesbury - Yeovil - Chard - Honiton - Exeter coach actually went through Yarcombe.

The London - Salisbury - Blandford - Bridport - Honiton - Exeter coach did not; so I do not understand the implication in the report with reference to ‘the Blandford Mail’. Presumably any mail by this route would have to be transferred at Honiton.

A Receiver was appointed at Yarcombe in March 1828, at a salary of £3 per annum. [4]

In 1836, the first of these coaches was rerouted further north via Wincanton and Ilminster, to Honiton; thus Yarcombe was no longer on its route.

In April 1838 Yarcombe was transferred to the Chard Penny Post, and a daily messenger employed at 1/- per day for the walk from Chard via Whitestaunton to Yarcombe. [7]

In October 1838 this walk was rerouted slightly to take in the village of High Wambrook also, where a Receiving House was established at a salary of £3 per annum. [10], [11] These arrangements then remained until after 1840. [14]

The Tatworth and Chardstock walks.

In June 1838 a Receiving House was established at Tatworth. [8], [9] I presume a bag was dropped there by the existing Chard to Axminster mail cart. cf. [12] In December 1838 a walk from Tatworth to Chardstock was added, [12] with the messenger paid £10 per annum. [14]

In November 1839, when the Chard to Axminster mail cart was abolished, the Tatworth Receiving House was closed, and a messenger employed to cover the whole walk from Chard, via Tatworth, to Chardstock. [13] At first he was paid £l8-5-0 per annum, later increased to £23-9-4. [14]

Handstamps

The following 'Chard Penny Post' and Receiving House numerals are recorded.

No markings are recorded for the other Receiving Houses: Combe St.Nicholas, Yarcombe, Tatworth and Wambrook, although a No.4 handstamp is listed in the County Catalogue.

References

[1] Post 42 Vol.39 Page 363 1 Nov. 1824

[2] Vol.42 Page 21 27 Mar. 1826

[3] Vol.46 Page 27 22 Mar. 1828

[4] Vol.46 Page 85 31 Mar. 1828

[5] Vol.55 Page 92 7 Dec. 1831

[6] Vol.57 Page 470 21 Feb. 1833

[7] Post 35 Vol.43 Page 140 18 Apr. 1838

[8] Vol.43 Page 324 31 May 1838

[9] Vol.43 Page 368 6 June 1838

[10] Vol.44 Page 432 1 Oct. 1838

[11] Vol.44 Page 503 20 Oct. 1838

[12] Vol.45 Page 336 20 Dec, 1838

[13] Vol.50 Page 269 27 Nov. 1839

[14] Post 9/132 Survey of Riding Work 1838-1843.