Somerset & Bristol Postal History

Here are some random Registered covers, starting with one from Midsomer Norton in July 1949 to the Ratings Officer at Shepton Mallet.

This OHMS cover from Musgrove, Taunton in April 1960 contained a strychnine permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Another registered envelope to the Rating Officer, Shepton Mallet, this time from North Cadbury in December 1937 ....... and another from Oakhill in January 1939 ....

... and from Parbrook in December 1940 ....

... and one from Pilton in January 1940.

 

 Yet more UDCs, starting with Oakhill (under Bath) from November 1845.

... "RADSTOCK" from April 1846.

This example of the "SHEPTON-BEAUCHAMP" udc is currently the only example recorded.

The "SION-HILL" udc from August 1845 is currently the earliest example known.

Stourton is in Wiltshire but was issued a UDC under Bath in October 1853.

The envelope below, with a "WEDMORE" udc, was sent to the USA and has markings that indicate that it went on a British ship.

... a "WINSFORD" udc from November 1857.

... and an earlier example from July 1854, currently the earliest known usage.

And finally (alphabetically) here is a seriffed "YATTON" udc from October 1848 on a Registered Letter.  The registration fee had to be paid in cash while postage had to be paid in stamps.

The entire below is from Oakhill cottage to Lincolnshire and has a boxed "No.18" receiving house handstamp, used at Oakhill.  The "BATH" double-arc datestamp has the last digit of the year omitted (the date inside is 1st July 1833).

 

Here are a few Offices under Bath, starting with Maiden Bradley in Wiltshire.  The postcard has a "MAIDEN BRADLEY / BATH" cancel dated July 1918.

Next is a skeleton from Marston Magna, Bath - the date is unclear apart from the year (1912) but the skeleton handstamp is only known used between 25th and 26th December 1912.

Two cancels from Oakhill, Bath from 1910 and 1918, the second asking "Sending for cider tomorrow - could you sweeten it and charge me the cost as I am run quite out".

This next cancel is for "WELLOW / SOM" while the office came under Bath.  The handstamp has no year in it and does not appear to have space for one.

Finally a mourning envelope from Weston, Bath.  This is the Weston 3 miles north-west of Bath, not to be confused with Weston-super-Mare.