The idea of "one in - one out" would work for the post messengers (except for the start and end of the post road) but would not work for horses hired out to people who want to "ride post", ie. to hire horses to ride the post road. There was mention in one of the books I've read a...

I’ve read in a number of books about how postmasters used to be under contract to the Crown to provide horses for post messengers, or to provide messengers and horses, to move mail along the post roads. How did the postmasters get their horses back if they just provided horses ? Who looked after the...

Before the Uniform Rates, how did the Post Offices and Receiving Houses know the charge to put on an entire if it was prepaid ? For example, if someone went to a Receiving House in deepest Somerset and wanted to pre-pay an entire to a town in Norfolk, how did the RH deputy know what to charge ? What...

Website set up for the Somerset and Dorset Postal History Group at http://leamphil.users.btopenworld.com/SandDPHG.htm

Further info: the next meeting is on Sunday, 23rd October 2011 in Hornsbury Mill, Chard. Visitors and new members are welcome at their meetings.

Thanks for the contacts Mike, they are still the correct people (I ended up ringing 3 out of 4 of them !). They don't have a web presence ... but they're going to think about it now ! I gather that Membership is £6 per annum for 2 journals, 2 newsletters and 2 meetings a year, and that the next meet...

Thanks Mike - do the journals of the Somerset and Dorset Postal History Group give any contact info ? I've searched online but cannot find a web presence other than fleeting references to their publications.

Is there a Society or Study Group that covers Somerset Postal History ? If so, can someone please tell me how to contact them. Are there any publications that cover Somerset PH - I've got the British County Catalogue vol 5. All prompted because I started collecting postmakrs associated with my surna...

Can anyone please point me at a source for the GB (letter) postal rates from 1840 to the current day ?