Post Office Savings Bank Book

The Post Office Savings Bank came in to being in 1861 when the General Post Office was authorised to undertake savings bank business by the Post Office Savings Bank Act.

The Bank started its history on Monday 16 September 1861 in two small rooms in the Post Office headquarters, St Martins-le-Grand, London EC and in 1863 took over more spacious accommodation in a warehouse at 27 St Paul's Churchyard, EC. With the growth of the Bank these premises too became too small and a new headquarters was built at 144 Queen Victoria Street, EC in 1880. This sufficed until 1903 when a move was made to a new building in Blythe Road, West Kensington. This building continued as the main address of the Bank until the late 1960s, although additional accommodation in West London, Harrogate and Manchester was necessary at various dates.

In the ensuing years the Government Stock Register, the Post Office Register, and annuity and insurance business were added to the Bank's services and its administration became the responsibility of the Savings Bank Department of the Post Office with, from 1935, a Director of Savings in charge.

By the Post Office Act 1969 the Savings Department was hived off from the Post Office and re-constituted as the Department for National Savings, reporting to Treasury ministers.

 Here is a damaged example of a Deposit Form for the Post Office Savings Bank for a pupil at Skilgate Parochial School near Taunton.  It is damaged at the side and the stamps were probably added later.