Taunton Penny Post - Pre-1829

Taunton's Penny Post started some time before May 1817 with the Receiving House at Gore Inn, Bishop's Lydeard ("No.1" boxed handstamp) having a branch to Bagborough, Crowcombe, Lydeard St. Lawrence, Handy Cross and Combe Florey.

In April 1823 Monksilver ("No.2" boxed handstamp) and Torre ("No.3" boxed handstamp) converted from Fifth Clause to Penny Posts.

In 1824 the inhabitants of Stogumber requested an improvement to their post - as the number of letters was small an official Post was denied, but a bag was made up at Taunton and dropped off at the nearest point to Stogumber (about one mile), with a private messenger costing an extra 1d on each letter (over and above the General Post plus Penny Post charges) employed to pick up the mail and meet the return coach.

The item below originated in Stogumber in 1824 and may have been subject to these arrangements.  It does not have any Receiving House marks.

Here is the reverse of the item showing that it originated in Stogumber.

The item below also originated in Stogumber in 1827.

The item below originated in Capland, just south of Hatch Beauchamp.  It was taken to Hatch, presumably by a servant, to catch the private post to Taunton, to then go in the Penny Post to Torre, and then to Chapel Cleeve.  It was charged 2d as a "short" letter, ie. on that did not go in the General Post.