The Bristol Royal Mail: Post, Telegraph, and Telephone

audiobook

The Bristol Royal Mail: Post, Telegraph, and Telephone

by Robert Charles Tombs

EN·~5 hours·23 chapters

Chapters

23 total
1

The - Bristol Royal Mail. - POST, TELEGRAPH, AND TELEPHONE. - BY - R. C. TOMBS, - Postmaster of Bristol, Ex-Controller of the London Postal Service. - BRISTOL: - J. W. Arrowsmith, 11 Quay Street.

0:20
2

ILLUSTRATIONS.

0:59
3

PREFACE.

4:11
4

THE BRISTOL ROYAL MAIL.

0:01
5

CHAPTER I. - 1532-1764. DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAIL SERVICES. RALPH ALLEN.

14:42
6

CHAPTER II. - 1770-1818. MAIL COACH ERA.—JOHN PALMER.

21:05
7

CHAPTER III. - 1819 ONWARDS. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INTERVENES IN MAIL AFFAIRS. OLD MAIL GUARDS.

15:30
8

CHAPTER IV. - VICTORIAN ERA, 1837-1899. MAIL TRANSPORT BY RAILWAY.—TRAVELLING POST OFFICES.

22:42
9

CHAPTER V. - 1678-1899. BRISTOL POSTMASTERS.

15:00
10

CHAPTER VI. - NOTABLE POST OFFICE SERVANTS OF BRISTOL ORIGIN.

7:17

Description

A vivid portrait of Bristol’s communications legacy, this volume traces the evolution of the city’s post office, telegraph rooms and early telephone networks. Filled with historic photographs and detailed illustrations, it brings to life the bustling mail‑coach era, the grand architecture of the head post office, and the personalities who kept the system running. The author, a former postmaster, weaves together official records and local anecdotes, offering readers a clear picture of how Bristol kept pace with national advances despite never being the foremost seaport.

Beyond its factual richness, the work serves a charitable purpose, directing all profits to the Rowland Hill Memorial and Benevolent Fund, which supports postal employees and their families in need. By linking past achievements with present‑day community care, the book invites residents and history lovers alike to appreciate the often‑overlooked role of the postal service in shaping daily life. It’s an engaging, accessible guide to a proud, industrious chapter of Bristol’s heritage.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~5 hours (325K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Henry Gardiner, The Philatelic Digital Library Project at http://www.tpdlp.net and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

Release date

2010-11-02

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

RC

Robert Charles Tombs

1842–1923

Best known for lively histories of Bristol’s postal system, this British writer turned everyday mail routes, coaches, and post offices into stories full of local character. His books are a great fit for listeners who enjoy practical history with a strong sense of place.

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