The King's Post Being a volume of historical facts relating to the posts, mail coaches, coach roads, and railway mail services of and connected with the ancient city of Bristol from 1580 to the present time

A vivid chronicle of a city whose lifeline has always been the exchange of letters, this work traces Bristol’s postal network from the humble foot‑and‑running posts of the late 16th century through the bustling post houses that greeted travelers in the streets of Dolphin and Exchange Avenue. It paints a picture of early postmasters, such as Allen and Teague, who kept the kingdom’s messages moving, and shows how the city’s strategic importance prompted a steady flow of royal and commercial correspondence.

The narrative weaves together the evolution of coach roads, the inventive mail‑coach designs of John Palmer, and the lively inns—like the Bush Tavern and White Lion—that became hubs for riders and news. Readers encounter daring highway robberies, the shift from horse‑drawn coaches to railway mail services, and the rise of telegraph and telephone links that kept Bristol connected to the wider world. Throughout, the book offers a tapestry of anecdotes, personalities, and the everyday logistics that shaped communication across centuries.