Some Taunton Miscellany

The letter below from Bishops Lydeard to Durham in 1838 was charged 1/2d postage - 1d for the local Penny Post from Bishops Lydeard to Taunton plus 1/1d for the 300-400 miles to Durham in the General Post.

Unfortunately for the recipient, who had to pay the 1/2d postage, the contents were a letter saying that the recipients application for a living was unsuccessful.

Uniform Penny Postage was introduced on 10th January 1840, after a brief period when the uniform postage was 4d.  The cover below is postmarked on 13th January, three days after the introduction of the UPP.  The contents are a receipt from Frederick May for "Bells Messenger" (a weekly publication) from July to December 1839.

The OHMS letter below, sent in August 1843, has a handstamped officer frank and contains a printed form from the Legacy Duty Department.

The letter below from Stourbridge to "Brixam" was forwarded to Taunton and opened by a Mrs Robinson who refused the letter (which was detailing an amount of £5-5-6 that needed to be paid).

The letter below dated 7th February 1849 has a clear example of the "TAUNTON / 7" skeleton handstamp, known in use between 6th and 15th February 1849.