The Post Office
The post office in Mickleton moved four times before it’s closure in 2022.
The first Post Office at the Village Shop (1800s
At first it was at Mrs Farley’s general shop opposite the corner of Back Lane. Mrs Mary Cockbill was the “receiver” It is said that she wore a crinoline, and that she delivered the letters herself. By 1876 John Cockbill was the Sub-Postmaster and letters came from Campden, with delivery at 9:30a.m. and Sunday delivery and dispatch added.
The second Post Office at Tudor House
Between 1876 and 1879 the post office removed to Tudor House. By 1879 Arthur Roberts who had married Miss Cockbill was “receiver”, letters coming through Morton in Marsh. The nearest Telegraph office was Chipping Campden. In 1889 postal orders are mentioned, issued but not paid at Mickleton.
The Post Office from the late 1880s to 1957 (Richmond House)
The postal office moved again, to what is Richmond House today, where it remained until 1957. By 1894, Josiah Bayliss, the road surveyor, was also sub-postmaster. The post office now had all sections- money orders, telegraph office, Savings Bank, and annuity and insurance office. There was a local postman delivering the morning mail in the village from Campden at first on foot, later a bicycle then the motor bicycle and then a van in the 1950s
By 1906 Mr Josiah Bayliss had been succeeded by his son Mr J. T. Bayliss who remained there until 1916 when he went to farm at Nineveh. By 1919 Mrs. Ada Hyde had taken over and she was in charge there until 1954 when Mrs Gertrude Harrison took over. She retired in 1957 when the post office moved again.
The Post Office sold stationery and all kinds of things. They were agents too for bicycles, and did repairs, and later hired out a pony and trap when people began to want to move about more to visit relatives and go shopping outside the village.
One account book shows orders for pens (6 doz. 1d. boxes- 3/6), Starwatch keys ( 1doz. 1d-7d.), 3 doz. lead pencils-5 ¼ d, 1 doz. 1d sponges- 7d., ¼ doz. watercolour boxes is 10 ½ d, 1/12 Bone dominos- 8d., 1 ream note paper- 1/-, a good leather handbag cost 5/-.
Telegrams in their early days cause much apprehension and curiosity. Children were usually sent to deliver them. The telephone came into general use in Mickleton about 1924 with very few subscribers at first, perhaps only eight. The telephone exchange was in the Post office.
The markings from where the original Post Office counter was can still be seen in the dining room of Richmond House today.
The final location for the Post Office from 1957 until its closure in 2022
The Post Office was removed to the cafe where it was initially run by Miss Ethel Pearce. During the last war women took over delivery work and there was still a post woman in the late 1950s. Mrs Spencer (Postmistress) and Cheryl Spencer are shown inside the Post Office Store in 1979. In the 80s ‘Posties’ included Stephen Folkes, Joan Bartlett (Joan the Post), and James Fairfax. In later years Postmasters/mistresses included Mr and Mrs Welsh and Peter and Thelma Hunt
Gareth Bond was the last Postmaster before its closure in 2022.
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