Bruton Fifth Clause Posts (from Shepton Mallet, Shaftesbury, Wincanton)

The Shaftesbury Fifth Clause Post was set up in 1823 serving Bruton, Castle Cary and Wincanton, for mail to London and the south.  At a similar time the Shepton Mallet Fifth Clause Post was set up serving Bruton and Castle Cary, for mail to the north.  It is not thought that Wincanton came under the Shepton Mallet 5th Clause Post.

In 1830 Wincanton became a Post Town (because it was then on the post road) and started a Fifth Clause Post serving Bruton and Castle Cary for mail to London and the south, replacing the Shaftesbury 5th Clause Post.

The following sheets show examples of Bruton in (a) the Shaftesbury 5th Clause Post, (b) the Shepton Mallet 5th Clause Post, and (c) the Wincanton 5th Clause Post.