Circulars

Post Office Circulars were first introduced in 1859 and were published weekly. They were used as a way of guiding staff in their duties and informing them (and through them, the public) of new postal services and operational changes.

Circulars can be a valuable source of information for local postal historians as the date of the opening and/or closure of a post office would have been reported in the Circulars. Crimes and incidents at post offices were also reported along with appointments of senior postal staff. As a result, the Circulars are also a valuable source of information for family historians.

Circulars for the years 1898-1968 are available on open shelves in our Search Room. They are a good source of information for local history, providing information such as senior appointments and vacancies, incidents at post offices and changes to mail services. Other Circulars are held in archive class POST 68 which has not yet been catalogued.

Here are four examples of Post Office Circulars in our collection:

Circular about theft at Warbrech Road Post Office, Blackpool, 1906

This Circular for 1906 reports the theft of Money Order and Postal Order forms from Warbreck Road Town Sub-Office (TSO), Blackpool.

It tells us that on the night of 6-7 September, an unknown person broke into the shop in which Warbreck Road post office was situated. The person stole a number of Money Order and Postal Order forms (the serial numbers of the stolen forms are given). The date stamp and box of type - both needed to validate the forms - were also stolen.

This Circular warns staff not to process any Money Order or Postal Order forms with the serial numbers of the ones that were stolen from Warbreck Road.

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Circular about experimental air mail service between Liverpool and Belfast, 1928

This Circular for 1928 revealed that an experimental air service between Liverpool and Belfast was carried out between 24 and 29 September that year. Letters could be handed in at Liverpool for the outgoing mail up until 8.20am, and at Belfast up to 1.45pm.

Information on the Channel Islands Mail Steamer Service is also given, with times of departure and arrival from Southampton, and arrangments made for the Christmas post later on that year.

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Circular about appointments and vacancies, 1941

This Circular for 1941 shows the appointments of several members of staff as Head Postmasters and Postmasters.

A vacancy for a Staff Officer in the North Eastern Region (Engineering Branch) is also advertised.

In addition, the Roll of Honour lists those lost in action and/or awarded medals that was included in each Post Office Circular produced during the war.

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Circular announcing opening of Whitchurch salaried post office, 1966

This Circular for 1966 tells us that a new salaried post office opened in Whitchurch, Salop on 1 February 1966. Its opening hours (9.00am to 5.30pm) are given, as well as days of closure (Sundays, Good Friday, Boxing Day and so on).

It also informed Post Office staff that Whitchurch Head Office would close for business on Monday 31 January 1966.

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