Somerset & Bristol Postal History

Here are a couple of examples of entires in the Taunton Penny Post that were too early for the post-1828 receiving house handstamps.  The first is from Crowcombe from March 1828, which a little later had the unboxed "No.3" receiving house handstamp.

The next is from Williton from February 1828, that a little later had the unboxed "No.6" handstamp.

Some more Undated Circular handstamps, starting with one from Chew-Magna under Bristol in black from April 1853.  Interestingly the contents appear to be the actual signed and witnessed Will of Mrs Marianne Hutcheson.

The next is from Clatworthy under Wiveliscombe in brown from November 1851.  This is currently the only known example in brown.

And finally two examples of the UDC from Crowcombe under Taunton, from July 1847 (currently the earliest known example) and July 1849 (currently the latest known example).

A Receiving House in Crowcombe was opened in late 1828, and used the unboxed "No.3" handstamp. The handstamp became worn quite quickly.

There were 48 offices under Taunton that had main period UDCs issued to them (one, Fitzhead, had two issued).

Crowcombe's UDC was issued on 22nd September 1845.  It is known used between June 1847 and July 1849.  The example below is from July 1847.

Lydiard (or Bishop's Lydeard) also had its UDC issued on 22nd September 1845.  It is known used in orange (March 1846 to October 1858), red (October 1845 to April 1846), black (December 1846) and blue (June 1859).  The example below in black is dated July 1859.

Monksilver's UDC was issued on the 18th September 1845 and is known used in red from February 1847 to January 1851 and in orange from February 1847 to April 1850.  The examples below are from December 1848 and February 1849 - I am not sure whether they are faded red or orange ?

The next few posts will show the items I have for the different Receiving Houses in the Taunton Penny Post after 1828, beginning with an entire that has an unboxed RH handstamp from 1836, that I believe is a "No.3" - because it originates from Crowcombe which was the No.3 Receiving House after 1828.

Next an unboxed "No.4" from Stogumber, used after the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post in 1844 as a receiving handstamp.

And an unboxed "No.5" from Monksilver Parsonage in 1831 that could be from Bicknoller (although Monksilver had its own Receiving House, No.10, at some stage) - the scan shows a bit of the contents - how anyone could read it I don't know.