Minehead - Squared Circles, Skeletons and the Camp

The first Squared Circle cancels used at Minehead had a time code rather than the time in clear.

 Skeleton cancels were used when the main cancel was not available.  The examples below were probably used because the Squared Circle cancel was being altered ....

 .... to have an explicit time rather than a time code.  The message on this postcard from 1905 refers to the Camp at Minehead.

 The Camp had its own postmark in 1907.  The cancel refers to "MINEHEAD S.O." - Minehead had been under Taunton until 1870 when it became a Railway Sub-Office (RSO) which lasted until 1905 when all the RSOs were converted to either Post Towns or Sub-Offices.

Minehead

As it says in the introduction below, Minehead probably comes from the Celtic 'mynydd' for mountain reflecting the prominence of North Hill.

Minehead had a number of straight line cancels - the first five of which I do not have !  My first example is the common "MINEHEAD/185" handstamp, in use from 1804 to 1843.

 

 

 Minehead also had a Penny Post - here is a poor example of the handstamp used in 1842.

According to Parmenter, Minehead had two horizontal numeric obliterators (3HOS) and one vertical one (3VOS) show below.  There are no duplex cancels.

Milverton

Two of the three handstamps in the BCC - only missing the "mileage erased" handstamp rarity Z !

 Milverton became a Railway Sub-Office (RSO) in 1874 and remained one until 1905 when RSOs were converted to either Sub-Offices or Post Towns.  The two cancels below from 1910 and 1913 still say "RSO".

 

Martock

Examples of the two handstamps for Martock in the British County Catalogue:

 

 A squared circle cancel from 1910:

 And a double circle double-arc cancel from 1982.

Langport

Some postmarks from Langport - unfortunately I do not have any of the early straight line handstamps, so starting with the handstamp with mileage in use between1805 and 1846:

  Then the squared circle, these from 1905/6 with the time of posting:

 The earlier squared circle from 1899 has a code instead of the time of posting.

 A continuous machine cancel from 1976 - this strikes me as late, is it ?

 A double circle double-arc cancel.

 And finally a special commemorative cancel for the Battle of Langport.

Ilminster

I don't have any of the early handstamps of Ilminster, my earliest being from 1824.  Starting with an introduction:

and then proceeding to a circular handstamp with mileage:

 Ilminster had the "401" numeric obliterator.

 It's always nice to get a postcard with a nice cancel and a view of the place.

 And finally a continuous machine cancel from 1958.

Ilchester

A few handstamps and cancellations for Ilchester starting with one from 1796.  The postage for this entire shows how before 1797 the rate was costed separately for the mileage to London (5d) and away from it (4d) making a total charge of 9d.  After 1797 the rate was costed on the total mileage to and away from London.

 A barred numeral obliterator for Ilchester ("399"):

 A double-arc dated handstamp from 1845:

 And finally a double-circle, double-arc cancel from 1948, by which time Ilchester came under Yeovil as its Post Town.

Glastonbury - the Tor and Abbey in pictures

A selection of postcards (or photographs produced for postcards) mainly illustrating the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, but first a couple associated with the Tor.

 It is thought that the monks of the Abbey may have helped the folk-lore about King Arthur along a bit:

 And then lots of pictures/postcards of the ruins:

 

 

 

 

Glastonbury - Commemorative Cancels

The most popular images associated with Glastonbury are of the Tor and of the ruined Abbey, both of which feature in the first of the Commemorative Cancels.

 Glastonbury is also linked with King Arthur:

 The Glastonbury thorn appeared on the Christmas stamps of 1986.