Acts of Parliament relating to the Post Office:
Queen Victoria 1837-1901

In the listing below, hyperlinks, where given, are to the copy of the text on this site (if there is one yet). If the link has a after it, only the relevant part(s) of the Act are quoted. For an explanation of the referencing conventions for Acts as used below see this short guide.

(12th July 1837)Post Office (Repeal of Laws) Act 1837

1 Vict c.32
An Act to repeal the several Laws relating to the Post Office.

(12th July 1837)Post Office (Management) Act 1837

1 Vict c.33
An Act for the Management of the Post Office.

(12th July 1837)Postage Act 1837 (c.34)

1 Vict c.34
An Act for the Regulation of the Duties of Postage.

(12th July 1837)Postage Act 1837 (c.35)

1 Vict c.35
An Act for regulating the sending and receiving of Letters and Packets by the Post free from the Duty of Postage.

(12th July 1837)Post Office (Offences) Act 1837

1 Vict c.36
An Act for consolidating the Laws relative to Offences against the Post Office of the United Kingdom, and for regulating the judicial Administration of the Post Office Laws, and for explaining certain Terms and Expressions employed in those Laws.

(17th July 1837)Post Office Act 1837

1 Vict c.76
An Act to impose Rates of Packet Postage on East India Letters, and to amend certain Acts relating to the Post Office.

(17th July 1837)Parliament Documents Deposit Act 1837

1 Vict c. 83
An Act to compel Clerks of the Peace for Counties and other Persons to take the Custody of such Documents as shall be directed to be deposited with them under the Standing Orders of either House of Parliament.

(14th August 1838)Postage Act 1838

1 & 2 Vict c.97
An Act for imposing Rates of Postage on the Conveyance of Letters by Packet Boats between Places in the Mediterranean and other Parts.

(14th August 1838)Railways (Conveyance of Mails) Act 1838

1 & 2 Vict c.98
An Act to provide for the Conveyance of the Mails by Railways.

(17th August 1839)Postage Act 1839

2 & 3 Vict c.52
An Act for the further Regulation of the Duties on Postage until the Fifth Day of October One thousand eight hundred and forty.

(10th August 1840)Post Office (Duties) Act 1840

3 & 4 Vict c.96
An Act for the Regulation of the Duties of Postage.

(31st May 1843)Parliamentary Voters Registration Act 1843

6 & 7 Vict c.18
An Act to amend the Law for the Registration of Persons entitled to vote, and to define certain Rights of voting, and to regulate certain Proceedings in the Election of Members to serve in Parliament for England and Wales.

(29th July 1844)Post Office (Duties) Act 1844

7 & 8 Vict c.49
An Act for the better Regulation of Colonial Posts.

(6th August 1844)Post Horse Licence Duties (Ireland) Act 1844

7 & 8 Vict c.67
An Act to transfer the Collection of the Duty on Licences to let Horses for Hire in Ireland from the Commissioners of Stamps to the Commissioners of Excise.

(9th August 1844)Railway Regulation Act 1844

7 & 8 Vict c.85
An Act to attach certain Conditions to the Construction of future Railways authorized or to be authorized by any Act of the present or succeeding Sessions of Parliament; and for other Purposes in relation to Railways.

(22nd July 1847)Post Office (Duties) Act 1847

10 & 11 Vict c.85
An Act for giving further Facilities for the Transmission of Letters by Post, and for the regulating the Duties of Postage thereon, and for other Purposes relating to the Post Office.

(31st August 1848)Post Office (Money Orders) Act 1848

11 & 12 Vict c.88
An Act for further regulating the Money Order Department of the Post Office.

(4th September 1848)Post Office Act 1848

11 & 12 Vict c.117
An Act for rendering certain Newspapers published in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man liable to Postage.

(28th July 1849)Colonial Inland Post Office Act 1849

12 & 13 Vict c.66
An Act for enabling Colonial Legislatures to establish Inland Posts.

(10th August 1854)Public Revenue and Consolidated Fund Charges Act 1854

17 & 18 Vict c.94
An Act to alter the Mode of providing for certain Expenses now charged upon certain Branches of the Public Revenues and upon the Consolidated Fund.

(15th June 1855)Newspapers Act 1855

18 & 19 Vict c.27
An Act to amend the Laws relating to the Stamp Duties on Newspapers, and to provide for the Transmission by Post of printed periodical Publications.

(30th July 1855)Inland Revenue Act 1855

18 & 19 Vict c.78
An Act to reduce certain Duties payable on Stage Carriages, and to amend the Laws relating to Stamp Duties, and to Bonds and Securities to the Inland Revenue.

(23rd July 1858)New General Post Office, Edinburgh, Act 1858

21 & 22 Vict c.40
An Act to confer Powers on the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings to acquire the Theatre Royal Edinburgh, and adjacent Property, for the Erection of a new General Post Office; and for other Purposes.

(23rd March 1860)Packet Service, Securities Act 1860

23 & 24 Vict c.6
An Act to transfer to the Postmaster General Securities entered into with the Commissioners of the Admiralty in relation to the Packet Service.

(6th August 1860)Post Office (Duties) Act 1860

23 & 24 Vict c.65
An Act to authorize the Commissioners of the Treasury to further regulate the Postage on re-directed Letters of Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Seamen, and Soldiers whilst on actual Service.

(17th May 1861)Post Office Savings Banks Act 1861

24 & 25 Vict c.14
An Act to grant additional Facilities for depositing small Savings at Interest, with the Security of the Government for due Repayment thereof.

(4th May 1863)Post Office Savings Bank Act 1863

26 & 27 Vict c.14
An Act to amend the Law relating to Post Office Savings Banks.

(13th July 1863)Post Office Lands Act 1863

26 & 27 Vict c.43
An Act to enable Her Majesty's Postmaster General to sell and otherwise dispose of Land.

(5th July 1865)Post Office Extension Act 1865

28 & 29 Vict c.87
An Act to enable Her Majesty's Postmaster General to acquire a Site for the Extension of the General Post Office in St. Martin's-le-Grand in the City of London.

(30th July 1866)Post Office (Postmaster-General) Act 1866

29 & 30 Vict c.55
An Act to enable the Postmaster General to sit in the House of Commons.

(31st July 1868)Telegraph Act 1868

31 & 32 Vict c.110
An Act to enable Her Majesty's Postmaster General to acquire, work, and maintain Electric Telegraphs.

(31st July 1868)Regulation of Railways Act 1868

31 & 32 Vict c.119
An Act to amend the Law relating to Railways.

(9th August 1869)Telegraph Act 1869

32 & 33 Vict c.73
An Act to alter and amend 'The Telegraph Act, 1868.'

(9th August 1870)Post Office Act 1870

33 & 34 Vict c.79
An Act for further regulation of Duties of Postage, and for other purposes relating to the Post Office.

(29th June 1871)Post Office (Duties) Act 1871

34 & 35 Vict c.30
An Act for the further regulation of the Duties on Postage.

(21st July 1873)Regulation of Railways Act 1873

36 & 37 Vict c.48
An Act to make better provision for carrying into effect the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1854, and for other purposes connected therewith.

(7th August 1874)Post Office Savings Bank Act 1874

37 & 38 Vict c.73
An Act to amend the Law relating to the Payment to and Repayment by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt of Moneys received in and to the accounts relating to the Post Office Savings Bank.

(14th June 1875)Post Office Act 1875

38 & 39 Vict c.22
An Act for the further regulation of the Duties on Postage, and for other purposes relating to the Post Office.

(15th August 1876)Superannuation Post Office and War Office Act 1876

39 & 40 Vict c.68
An Act to amend the Law for the payment of Remuneration and the Grant of Superannuation Allowances and Gratuities to certain persons employed under Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the War Department and Her Majesty's Postmaster General.

(7th September 1880)Post Office (Money Orders) Act 1880

43 & 44 Vict c.33
An Act relating to Post Office Money Orders.

(7th September 1880)Savings Banks Act 1880

43 & 44 Vict c.36
An Act to amend the Savings Banks Acts.

(3rd June 1881)Customs and Inland Revenue Act 1881

44 & 45 Vict c.12
An Act to grant certain Duties of Customs and Inland Revenue, to alter other Duties, and to amend the Laws relating to Customs and Inland Revenue.

This was the Act authorising 1d "postal fiscals"

(18th July 1881)Post Office (Newspaper) Act 1881

44 & 45 Vict c.19
An Act for further regulating the Transmission of Newspapers.

(18th July 1881)Post Office (Land) Act 1881

44 & 45 Vict c.20
An Act to amend the Law with respect to the Acquisition of Land and the Execution of Instruments for the purposes of the Post Office.

(13th March 1882)Post Office (Reply Post Cards) Act 1882

45 Vict c.2
An Act to authorise the use of Reply Post Cards.

(18th August 1882)Revenue, Friendly Societies and National Debt Act 1882

45 & 46 Vict c.72
An Act for amending the Laws relating to Customs and Inland Revenue, and Postage and other Stamps, and for making further provision respecting the National Debt and charges payable out of the public revenue or by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt; and for other purposes.

This was the Act authorising "postal fiscals" up to 2s 6d

(18th August 1882)Post Office (Parcels) Act 1882

45 & 46 Vict c.74
An Act to amend the Post Office Acts with respect to the Conveyance of Parcels.

(25th August 1883)Post Office (Money Orders) Act 1883

46 & 47 Vict c.58
An Act to amend the Post Office (Money Orders) Acts, 1848 and 1880, and extend the same to Her Majesty's Dominions out of the United Kingdom.

(14th August 1884)Post Office (Protection) Act 1884

47 & 48 Vict c.76
An Act to amend the Law with respect to the Protection of the Post Office and to Offences committed in relation to the Post Office.

(14th August 1885)Telegraph Act 1885

48 & 49 Vict c.58
An Act to amend the Telegraph Acts, 1863 to 1878.

(31st July 1885)Post Office (Sites) Act 1885

48 & 49 Vict c.45
An Act to enable Her Majesty's Postmaster General to acquire lands in London, Birmingham, Bristol, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne for the public service.

(16th September 1887)Savings Banks Act 1887

50 & 51 Vict c.40
An Act to amend the Acts relating to Savings Banks and to the Purchase of Small Government Annuities, and to assuring Payments of Money after Death.

(12th August 1889)Telegraph (Isle of Man) Act 1889

52 & 53 Vict c.34
An Act to amend the Telegraph Acts, 1863 to 1885, and the Post Office Acts in relation to the Isle of Man.

(30th August 1889)Interpretation Act 1889

52 & 53 Vict c.63
An Act for consolidating enactments relating to the Construction of Acts of Parliament and for further shortening the Language used in Acts of Parliament.

(3rd July 1891)Savings Banks Act 1891

54 & 55 Vict c.21
An Act to amend the Law relating to Savings Banks.

(21st July 1891)Mail Ships Act 1891

54 & 55 Vict c.31
An Act to enable Her Majesty in Council to carry into effect Conventions which may be made with Foreign Countries respecting Ships engaged in Postal Service.

(21st July 1891)Stamp Duties Management Act 1891

54 & 55 Vict c.38
An Act to consolidate the Law relating to the Management of Stamp Duties.

(5th August 1891)Post Office Act 1891

54 & 55 Vict c.46
An Act to amend the Post Office Acts and to make provision for the Service of the Post Office.

(27th June 1892)Post Office Act 1892

55 & 56 Vict c.24
An Act to amend the Post Office Act, 1891, in relation to its application to Scotland, and to apply that Act to the Isle of Man and to the Channel Islands.

(24th August 1893)Conveyance of Mails Act 1893

56 & 57 Vict c.38
An Act to make further provision for the Conveyance of Her Majesty's Mails.

(21st December 1893)Savings Bank Act 1893

56 & 57 Vict c.69
An Act to amend the Law relating to Savings Banks.

(27th June 1895)Post Office Amendment Act 1895

58 & 59 Vict c.18
An Act to amend the Post Office Act, 1891.

(6th August 1897)Post Office and Telegraph Act 1897

60 & 61 Vict c.41
An Act to make provision with respect to the Delivery of Telegrams, Guarantees by Parish Councils in Scotland, and the Pensions of certain Persons employed in the Telegraph Service.

(25th July 1898)Post Office (Guarantee) Act 1898

61 & 62 Vict c.18
An Act to make better provision for the guarantee of Postal Facilities by Local Authorities.

(12th August 1898)Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898

61 & 62 Vict c.37
An Act for amending the Law relating to Local Government in Ireland, and for other purposes connected therewith.

(12th August 1898)Revenue Act 1898

61 & 62 Vict c.46
An Act for amending the Law relating to Customs and Inland Revenue and for other purposes connected with Finance.

(12th August 1898)Post Office Guarantee (No. 2) Act 1898

61 & 62 Vict c.59
An Act to extend to Borough and Urban District Councils the powers to guarantee Postal and Telegraphic Facilities already possessed by Rural Councils.