Bourton (Dorset) under Wincanton

Bourton in Dorset was in the Shaftesbury, Hindon, and then Wincanton Penny Posts.  It is four miles east of Wincanton which became its Post Town before it came under Bath in 1855.  It transferred back to Wincanton in 1908 and then became a Post Town in its own right in 1910.  It transferred to Gillingham, Dorset in 1936.

These next sheets illustrate its postmarks while it was in some of the states above, starting with a cover from May 1833 which had been missent to Bourton rather than Bruton.  It received a boxed "No.4" handstamp from the Shaftesbury Penny Post.

The next two covers are from 1853 and 1855, while it was still under Wincanton and before it came under Bath.  Both have yellow "BOURTON" UDCs and "WINCANTON" double arc handstamps.

 Next we have a cover from August 1857 where Bourton is under Bath, with a black "BOURTON" UDC and a "BATH / 53" sifeways duplex cancel.

Finally here are two covers from 1907 and 1909.  In the first it should be under Bath but there is no indication of the post town as the postcard just has a "BOURTON / DORSET" single ring cancel.  The second postcard has a "BOURTON.WINCANTON / SOMERSET" single ring showing that Bourton is under Wincanton.  Its postal address would be Bourton, Wincanton, Somerset even though Bourton was in Dorset.

Bourton undated circular handstamp (UDC) in yellow, January 1855

A "BOURTON" UDC was issued under Bristol on 22 May 1848, and is known used in Black from November 1848 to September 1857.  It was also known in yellow on 12 January 1855 and in green on 28 August 1857.  This UDC was for use at Flax Bourton.

There was also a "BOURTON" UDC issued under Wincanton in July 1852, for use at Bourton in Dorset, four miles to the east of Wincanton.  This UDC is known in yellow on 6 March 1853.  Bourton transferred to Bath by 1855.

Below is the example of the "BOURTON" UDC in yellow used on 12 January 1855, and attributed to Flax Bourton.

As the letter is postmarked Bath, it would not be the Flax Bourton UDC but rather the Bourton in Dorset UDC, so the example in yellow (and perhaps in green) have been assigned to the wrong Bourton.

The confusion is not helped by the overlap of postal areas - Bristol, Dorset and Somerset.

Bourton to Clifton in 1852 with ornate "No.2" handstamp

Bourton, 4 miles ENE of Wincanton had been in the Wincanton Penny Post from 1838 using an ornate "No.2" receiving house handstamp.  This handstamp had previously been known used from 1838 to 1849;  the cover below extends that usage to 1852.

Coincidentally Hotwells near Clifton also used an ornate "No.2" handstamp in the Bristol Penny Post between 1837 and 1839.

Wincanton Penny Post ?

The sheet below has two covers from after the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post with Receiving House handstamps going through Wincanton. 

Oxley in his book "The English Provincial Local Posts" identifies Wincanton as having a Penny Post with a receiving house at Bourton in use by 1838.  The top cover below is from Bourton with an ornate "No.2" receiving house handstamp.  The lower cover is from Stalbridge with an unboxed "No.7" receiving house handstamp, which was in use at Stalbridge in the Shaftesbury Penny Post.  It appears from this cover that Stalbridge transferred from Shaftesbury to Wincanton by 1843.