Somerset & Bristol Postal History

I originally made a post in 2014 that described the background to Climax Rubber cancels - see here.  The time has come to post up a few more, starting with some under Taunton.  In the intervening years the number of such cancels recorded used in Somerset has increased from 636 to 692 (nearly all new types rather than new places). 

To date five different Climax Rubber cancels are known for Babcary.  Most were under Taunton, with one under Somerton known from 1905 to 1907.  The one below from August 1911, known in 1911-1912, can be distinguished from the one known later by the length of "TAUNTON".

Culmhead currently has three different cancels known, the one below is known 1914-1915 and is the latest known Climax cancel.

Only one Climax rubber cancel is known for Curland, and it is only known used in 1916.  The cancel was issued in 1896.

Six different Climax rubber cancels are known for Luxborough, four under Taunton and two under Washford.  Below are examples of the last two types, from 1922 and 1927.

And finally Shoreditch which has two types of Climax rubber cancel recorded - below are examples of both types, which can be distinguished by the length of "TAUNTON" in the cancels.

North Wootton had five "NORTH WOOTTON / SHEPTON MALLET" Type Ib handstamps.  The first was issued in June 1892, and the others are known used from November 1904, May 1906, March 1911 and January 1915.  In addition a "NTH WOOTTON / SHEPTON MALLET" Type 3 skeleton is known used in January 1906 and a "NORTH WOOT / TON SHEPTON MALLET" Type 3 skeleton in November 1910.  In the sheets below the top example is of the 2nd Type Ib (Nov 1904) handstamp, the next two are of the 3rd handstamp (May 1906) while the bottom example is of the last handstamp (Jan 1915).



Babcary was originally under Taunton and had a "BABCARY / TAUNTON" Type Ib handstamp issued in March 1893.  It then moved to Somerton where a "BABCARY / SOMERTON S.O. / SOMERSET" Type 2 handstamp was issued (known used from April 1905).  It then moved back to Taunton where another "BABCARY / TAUNTON" Type Ib handstamp was issued (known used from January 1915) with a "BABCARY / TAUNTON" Type 3 skeleton briefly in use in November 1914.  The example below from June 1907 is of the handstamp while it was under Somerton.

Compton Dundon had a "COMPTON DUNDON / SOMERTON, SOMERSET" Type Ic handstamp issued in March 1904 and then a "COMPTON DUNDON /  SOMERTON / SOMERSET" Type 2 handstamp is known used from October 1909.  The example below is of this later handstamp from c. 1911.

East Lambrook was originally under Ilminster where an "EAST LAMBROOK / ILMINSTER" Type Ib handstamp was issued in July 1899.  It then moved to South Petherton and received an "EAST LAMBROOK / SOUTH PETHERTON / SOMERSET" Type 2 handstamp which was known used from August 1918.  The example below brings this date forward, being from November 1917.