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The 19th Century British Post — 20 Comments

  1. Pingback:The 19th Century British Post | Wendi Sotis, Author

  2. There seems to be a conspiracy to tell us that Mail guards were “well paid.” They were only paid 10 shillings and sixpence a week compared to the coachman’s usual guinea (21 shillings). An agricultural labourer could earn more than a guard (http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~alan/family/N-Money.html). The security of a pension and paid leave were however desirable extras.

    Both guards and coachman made their extra money from “perquisites” at the end of their ground, extracted with charm and/or persistence from each passenger – a mere shilling was looked at with some scorn, and the guard/coachman might sarcastically return a tip if it was as small as sixpence, implying that the donor needed it more than he did. So in a day’s work the guard might make half his week’s wage from “perks.” They took home a good amount – but it wasn’t what they were “paid” by the Post Office.

    The image of “The mail coach in a thunderstorm on Newmarket Heath, Suffolk,” is from 1827, and the artist is G Reeves.

  3. I like facebook page and follow blog

    I love learning about the little things about history especially when in the 19th century.

  4. This is really interesting! I like learning things like this. It all seems a little complicated! But maybe it’s just been a long day lol. I tend to be wordy so I’d have to write reeeally small and cross my pages so the recipients wouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg.

    Thank you for the giveaway! I follow the blog via email and subscribe to the newsletter.

  5. “Mr. Bennet would have had to hand over ten shillings to the Postmaster in Meryton to receive a letter from his favorite daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy of Pemberley.”

    Wow, that’s expensive! Ten shillings is about fifty or sixty dollars in today’s money. No wonder folks wrote letters across to squeeze in more words per sheet. Thank you for the information!

  6. thanks, Wendi, for the great info! your giveaway generosity def appreciated .. 🙂
    the illlustration of the post in that weather speaks volumes!
    loved to hear the background of the innovator from Bath! certainly timed well with the final day of the JA Festival =)
    Royal Mail from UK still arrives faster than US or Cdn post !

  7. Soundas interesting. I’ve read tid bits here and there about the post in historical settings but this was by far the most informitive. Lovely post and I would love to be entered for the giveaway (Canada e book)

    -liked on fb

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  10. Pingback:When Paper was a Luxury - Random Bits of Fascination

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