BRISTOL MAIL COACH ANNOUNCEMENTS, 1802-1830.--THE NEW GENERAL POST
OFFICE, LONDON.
How our forefathers got about the country, and how the Mails were
carried as time went on after Allen and Palmer had disappeared from Mail
scenes, and Freeling had taken up the reins, the following
announcements, taken from _Bonner and Middleton's Bristol Journal_, and
from the _Bristol Mirror_ respecting Mail Stage Coaches will aptly
indicate. They are quoted just as they appeared, so that editing may not
spoil their originality or interest:--
"A letter from Exeter, dated May 10, 1802, said:--'Last Thursday the
London mail, horsed by Mr. J. Land, of the New London Inn, Exeter, with
four beautiful grey horses, and driven by Mr. Cave-Browne, of the
Inniskilling Dragoons, started (at the sound of the bugle) from St.
Sydwells, for a bet of 500 guineas, against the Plymouth mail, horsed
by Mr. Phillips, of the Hotel, with four capital blacks, and driven by
Mr. Chichester, of Arlington House, which got the mail first to the Post
Office in Honiton. The bet was won easily by Mr. Browne, who drove the
sixteen miles in one hour and fourteen minutes.--Bets at starting, 6 to
4 on Mr. Browne. A very great concourse of people were assembled on this
occasion.'"
On Saturday, October 2, 1802, it was announced that "the Union post
coach ran from Bristol every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday morning over
the Old Passage, through Chepstow and Monmouth to Hereford, where it met
other coaches, and returned the following days. Coaches left the White
Hart Inn and the Bush Tavern for Exeter and Plymouth every morning, by
the nearest road by ten miles. Fares: To Exeter, inside, £1 1s.;
outside, 14s.; to Plymouth, £1 11s. 6d. and £1 1s. Reduced fares are
offered by the London, Bath, and Bristol mail coaches--to and from
London to Bristol, inside, £2 5s.; from London to Bath, £2. Parcels
under 6lb. in weight taken at 6d. each, with an engagement to be
responsible for the safe delivery of such as are under £5 in value."
In August, 1803, passenger traffic to Birmingham caused rivalry among
the coach proprietors. A new coach having started on this route, three
coaching advertisements were issued:--
Under the heading "Cheap Travelling to Birmingham," the "Jupiter" coach
was announced to run from the White Lion, Broad Street, every Monday and
Friday afternoon, at two o'clock; through Newport, Gloucester,
Tewkesbury, and Worcester to Birmingham; the "Nelson" coach from the
Bush Tavern and White Hart every morning at three; and the mail every
evening at seven. "Performed by Weeks, Williams, Poston, Coupland and
Co."
The "Union" coach altered its times of leaving the Boar's Head, College
Place--"in order to render the conveyance as commodious and expeditious
as possible"--to Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings at seven o'clock,
over the Old Passage, through Chepstow, Monmouth, Abergavenny, and
Hereford, where it met the Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Chester, and Holyhead
coaches, and returned the following days, and met the Bath, Warminster,
Salisbury, and Southampton coaches every Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday
mornings at seven o'clock. "Performed by W. Williams, Bennett, Whitney,
Broome, Young and Co."
"A new and elegant coach, called the 'Cornwallis,'" left the Lamb Inn,
Broadmead, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon, at two
o'clock, through Newport, Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester, to the
George and Rose Inn, Birmingham, where it arrived early the next
morning, whence coaches set off for the Midlands, North Wales, and the
North of England. The proprietors pledged themselves that no pains
should be spared to make this a favourite coach with the public; and as
one of the proprietors would drive it a great part of the way, every
attention would be paid to the comfort of passengers. The fares of this
coach would at all times be as cheap as any other coach on the road, and
the proprietors expected a preference no longer than whilst endeavouring
by attention to merit it. "Performed by Thomas Brooks and Co.,
Bristol."
March 10, 1804:--"The 'Cornwallis' coach to Birmingham is to set out
from the Swan Inn, Maryport Street, at three every morning, Sundays
excepted, through Newport, Gloucester and Worcester, and arrive at the
Rose Inn, Birmingham, early the same evening. The fares of this coach
and the carriage of goods will be found at all times as cheap as any
other coach on the road." At this period Admiral Cornwallis, whose name
this coach bore, was fighting the French with his fleet off Brest.
On August 19, in that year (1804), the public were respectfully
informed, that "a light four-inside coach leaves the original
Southampton and general coach offices, Bush Inn and Tavern, Bristol,
every morning (Sundays excepted), at seven o'clock precisely, and
arrives at the Coach and Horses Inn, Southampton, at five in the
afternoon. The Gosport coach, through Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey and
Southampton, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at five o'clock. To
Brighton, a four-inside coach in two days, through Warminster,
Salisbury, Romsey, Southampton, Chichester, Arundel, Worthing and
Shoreham, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at seven, sleeps at
Southampton, and arrives early the following afternoon. Portsmouth Royal
Mail, through Warminster, Sarum, Romsey, and Southampton every afternoon
at three o'clock. Also the Oxford Royal Mail, every morning at seven
o'clock."
On August 18, 1823, the state of the roads comes under review:--"Mail
men, who have to drive rapidly over long distances, must ever be on the
look-out for the state in which the roads are kept.
"In December, 1819, Mr. Johnson, Superintendent of Mail Coaches, had to
report to the House of Commons on the 'petition of Mr. McAdam,' who was
engaged in constructing and repairing of the public roads.
"Previous to this the roads were very bad in most country places, except
the mail coach roads, built at the time the Romans came to England.
"McAdam's expenses up to 1814 amounted to £5,019 6s., actually expended
by him up to August, 1814, and he had travelled 30,000 miles in 1,920
days.
"He held the position of general surveyor of the Bristol turnpike roads,
at a salary, first year £400, and each subsequent year of £500, but,
taking into account that the annual salary was £200 for expenses
'incident' to the office, the remaining £300 was not more than adequate
payment for the constant and laborious duties attached to the
situation."
Under date of November 8, 1823, there is a list of Royal mails and
post-coaches despatched from and arriving at the Bush Tavern, Corn
Street, Bristol:--"London, daily, 4.0 p.m.; and at reduced fares by the
'Regent' at 9.0 p.m.; Milford and Waterford, via Cardiff and Swansea,
10.30 a.m. daily; Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, every evening at
7.0; Oxford, daily, at 7.0 a.m.; Portsmouth and Southampton, every
afternoon, at 4.0; Plymouth and Exeter, every morning, at 8; Birmingham,
Manchester and Liverpool, daily, at 6.0 a.m.; Portsmouth and
Southampton, by the 'Rocket,' at 7.0 a.m.; Gloster, Birmingham,
Liverpool, Manchester, and Holyhead leaves Bristol each day at 7.0 a.m."
On July 1, 1826, the "Hero" coach is quoted as performing the journey
from Bristol to Birmingham in twelve hours.
[Illustration: [_From "Stage Coach and Mail." By permission of Mr. C.G.
Harper._
HOW THE MAILS WERE CONVEYED TO BRISTOL IN THE DAYS OF KING GEORGE THE
FOURTH.]
On January 21, 1826:--"From Wood's Office, Bell Yard, Thomas Street,
Bristol. Coaches. The 'London Shamrock,' light post-coach, five o'clock
every evening; arrives in London at half-past seven next morning. Runs
to the Spread Eagle Inn, Gracechurch Street, and Bull Inn, Aldgate.
"'London Chronometer.' Cheap coach. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,
twelve o'clock. Fare: inside, 21s.; outside, 10s. 6d. Runs to Gerrard's
Hall, Basing Lane, Cheapside.
"Exeter, Plymouth, Devonport, Totnes, Newton-Bushel, Ashburton,
Tiverton, Wellington, Taunton, and Bridgwater. 'Royal Devon' Coach,
every afternoon at four o'clock.
"Bath. Every morning, at eight, ten, and twelve o'clock, and at five in
the evening."
January 21, 1826:--"Plume of Feathers, General Coach Office, Wine
Street, Bristol. W. Clift takes the present opportunity to return his
sincere thanks to the public for the preference they have given to his
coaches; and begs to inform them that the 'Traveller' coach, to Exeter,
is this day removed from Congdon's Hotel to the Old London Inn, and
leaves there for Bristol every evening, at half-past five, and arrives
at Bristol at half-past five in the morning, in time for the coaches to
Gloucester, Cheltenham, Worcester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester,
Holyhead, and all parts of the North; leaves Bristol at seven every
morning, proceeds through Bridgwater, Taunton and Tiverton, and arrives
at Exeter at six the same evening.
"The proprietors, for the better accommodation of their friends, have
declined the conveyance of fish by this coach, and pledge themselves
that no pains shall be wanting to render it the most comfortable as well
as the most expeditious coach on the road.
"Four-inside coaches to all parts of England daily. Performed by Clift,
Pratt and Co."
Saturday, December 30, 1826:--"We are informed that memorials to the
Lords of the Treasury and to the General Post Office, to establish a
mail-coach from Cheltenham, through Tewkesbury, over the Tewkesbury
Severn Bridge to Ledbury, and from thence to Hereford, are now in
course of signature through the neighbourhood connected with that line
of road. The advantages of such an arrangement will be most important,
as it will give to the inhabitants of that city two hours to answer, on
the same day, letters received in the morning from London, Bristol,
Birmingham, and all parts of the North and West, and also from Scotland
and from all parts of the north of Ireland. Should this object be
attained, the intended new mail will bring the London letters for
Hereford from Cheltenham on the arrival there of the Gloucester mail;
and the present Bristol and Birmingham mails will leave the Ledbury and
Hereford letters at Tewkesbury, instead of at Worcester, as now done."
October 13, 1827:--"Royal Mail and General Coach Office, Bush Tavern,
Corn Street, Bristol. New mails to Exeter, Plymouth and Barnstaple. The
public are respectfully informed that the Royal mail will in future
leave the Bush coach office daily, nine a.m., via Bridgwater, Taunton,
Wellington, Collumpton, and arrive in Exeter six p.m., leaving for
Plymouth six-thirty p.m. and arriving there eleven p.m. 'same night,'
making the journey, Bristol to Plymouth, in 'only fourteen hours.'
"Also Royal mail to Barnstaple, daily, nine-thirty a.m., via Taunton,
Wiveliscombe, Bampton and South Molton.
"Each mail will arrive at Bristol at five p.m., in time for the London
mail at five-twenty p.m., and of the 'Sovereign' four-inside coach to
London six p.m."
April 21, 1832:--"From the Bush Coach Office, the day coach, the
'Regulator,' daily (except Sundays) at six-thirty p.m., and arrives at
the White Horse Cellars, Piccadilly, and the Bull and Mouth, St.
Martin's-le-Grand, precisely at eight o'clock."
"The Weston-super-Mare coach, the 'Magnet,' left Weston nine a.m., and
on return left the Bush three-forty-five p.m., through Congresbury,
Cleeve, and Backwell.
"The 'Hope' left Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at
eight-thirty a.m., and returned from the Plume of Feathers at
four-thirty p.m. same day."
[Illustration: [_By permission of Mr. F.E. Baines, C.B. From "On the
Track of the Mail Coach."_
THE BRISTOL, BATH AND LONDON COACH TAKING UP MAILS WITHOUT HALTING.]
"Royal mail to Portsmouth, daily, five-fifteen p.m., return journey,
Portsmouth seven p.m., arrive White Lion eight-thirty next day."
In 1830, the "Bull and Mouth" in St. Martin's-le-Grand was a great coach
rendezvous. A strong and penetrating aroma of horses and straw pervaded
its neighbourhood, in Bull-and-Mouth Street.
The Gloucester and Aberystwith mail-coach continued to run until the
year 1854, and it is believed that was the last regular main road
mail-coach which was kept on the road. Its guard from 1836 to its
abolition in 1854 was Moses James Nobbs.
The London mail coaches of the period loaded up at about half-past seven
at their respective inns, and then assembled at the Post Office yard in
St. Martin's-le-Grand to receive the bags. All, that is to say, except
seven coaches carrying West of England mails--the Bath, Bristol,
Devonport, Exeter, Gloucester, Southampton, and Stroud--which started
from Piccadilly.
A contemporary writer said:--"Wonderful building, the new General Post
Office, opened in 1829, nearly opposite. They say the Government has
got something very like a white elephant in that vast pile. A great deal
too big for present needs, or, indeed, for any possible extension of
Post Office business."
And yet, in the 75 years which have elapsed two other Post Offices of
equal size have been built near it, and acres of ground at Mount
Pleasant--a mile off--have been covered with buildings for Post Office
purposes!
[Illustration: THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, ST. MARTIN'S-LE-GRAND, LONDON,
IN 1830.]