Some B's: Barrington, Bayford, Bishops Lydeard, Butleigh

Going through these four Bs in chronological order, here is an orange UDC from Butleigh in June 1854 that was proofed in December 1853;

.... a "BISHOPS LYDEARD / TAUNTON.SOMT" double circle double arc cancel from October 1949;

... a "BARRINGTON / ILMINSTER.SOMERSET" double circle double-arc cancel from March 1972;

... and finally "BAYFORD.WINCANTON / SOM." single ring cancels and a registration etiquette from September 1975.

20th century Bishop's Lydeard

Bishop's Lydeard, six miles north-west of its post town, Taunton, was in the Taunton Fifth Cluase Post from 1808 and then the Penny Post.  This post covers some 20th century cancels.

The first sheet below has a postcard cancelled with a single ring from 1907 and a curious double circle cancel from 1935.

This next sheet has two different 'Dulwich' cancels (double circle double-arc cancels first issued to Dulwich), the first from 1927 predating the bottom cancel on the sheet above, and the second on two letter cards from 1980.

UDCs #4 - Lydiard (Bishop's Lydeard), Meare, Paulton, Pawlet(t)

This next UDC, from Lydiard (Bishop's Lydeard) is currently the earliest known example in red from October 1845.

The Meare UDC below from February 1856 is currently the latest recorded example.

Paulton had an early serif-type UDC and the example below is currently the earliest known example, from May 1842.

This UDC from Pawlet (renamed to Pawlett in 1904) in January 1853 is currently the only recorded example.

Lydiard aka Bishop's Lydeard UDC

This rather blurred example of the Lydiard UDC in red is currently the latest known example.

Early Taunton Penny Post

Some more examples of the early Taunton Penny Post, beginning with an entire from 1820 written from [Bishops] Lydeard, showing a faint boxed "No.1" handstamp.

And a further example from 1826 ...

Next two examples of the boxed "No.3" handstamp from Torre, both from 1826.  The top example does not have a "TAUNTON / Penny Post" handstamp and was addressed to Stogumber, another receiving house in the Taunton Penny Post, so it probably went direct without going into Taunton and back.

And finally an entire from 1824, written in Stogumber and addressed to Wells.  At this time Stogumber was served by a messenger to and from the Taunton-Minehead ride, the cost of which was an additional 1d paid by the inhabitants of Stogumber on top of the Penny Post.

UDCs from Four-Forks, Hatch [Beauchamp], Holcomb[e] Rogus and [Bishop's] Lydiard

First up is an example of the second UDC issued to Four Forks from June 1855, currently the only example known.

Next an example of the Hatch [Beauchamp] UDC from September 1845.  It is not clear what colour the UDC is, either red or yellow.

Holcomb[e] Rogus is in Devon but was issued a UDC under Wellington in 1849.  Here is an example in blue from June 1851.

And finally two examples of the [Bishop's] Lydiard UDC from November 1854 and July 1859.

Taunton Penny Post - unboxed "No.2"

In the 1828 Taunton Penny Post reorganisation Gore Inn for Bishops Lydeard became Receiving House No.2 (having had the boxed "No.1" handstamp).  The initial unboxed "No.2" handstamp was rather ornate.

This next entire, from June 1842, shows a different, plain, "No.2" handstamp.

And this final example from November 1842 shows a third type of "2".

Taunton Penny Post - boxed "No.1"

Gore Inn, Bishop's Lydeard had the boxed "No.1" handstamp from sometime around the start of 1817.  It also transferred from the Fifth Clause to Penny Post at about that time.  Here is an example of the boxed "No.1" handstamp used in the Taunton Penny Post in May 1817.

Here are three more examples of the boxed "No.1" handstamp from 1823, 1824 and 1828.

Main period sans-serif 25mm UDCs under Taunton - part 1

There were 48 offices under Taunton that had main period UDCs issued to them (one, Fitzhead, had two issued).

Crowcombe's UDC was issued on 22nd September 1845.  It is known used between June 1847 and July 1849.  The example below is from July 1847.

Lydiard (or Bishop's Lydeard) also had its UDC issued on 22nd September 1845.  It is known used in orange (March 1846 to October 1858), red (October 1845 to April 1846), black (December 1846) and blue (June 1859).  The example below in black is dated July 1859.

Monksilver's UDC was issued on the 18th September 1845 and is known used in red from February 1847 to January 1851 and in orange from February 1847 to April 1850.  The examples below are from December 1848 and February 1849 - I am not sure whether they are faded red or orange ?