Local history records
The BPMA has an extensive collection of material that could be of use to local historians. These records have been naturally generated by the day-to-day running of the Royal Mail and were kept for permanent preservation. Our earliest material dates from the seventeenth century. We have information on many different areas all over England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
In our collection...
Post Office premises
We have both primary and secondary written and photographic sources on Post Office premises
which will provide local historians with information on numerous buildings.
See examples of our records on Post Office premises...
Maps
The Royal Mail Archive
holds a collection of well over 700 postal maps in archive class POST 21. The earliest map
known in our collections dates from 1757, whilst the latest map was produced in c.1990.
See examples of our maps...
Post Office Circulars
Archive class POST 68 contains Post Office
Circulars dating from 1908 to 1969. These were issued as a way of giving
instructions to staff. Our circulars offer you an insight into foreign and
colonial mail services, as well as details of local job vacancies for more
senior positions, and appointments of staff.
See examples of our records on Post Office circulars...
Additional material on local history can also be found in minute books in POST 35, POST 36, POST 37 and POST 38 and in the collection of posters in POST 110.
Access
The best way to see all our local history material is to visit The Royal Mail Archive Search Room. See our Visiting section for details. Some of the material is searchable in our online catalogue. To protect original material some records may be on microfilm.
Please note that there are some access issues with regard to the maps. Many are large and cumbersome to produce. Where possible you may be required to look at surrogates of the original maps. These will be available through our Search Room. Many of the maps require some conservation and can therefore only be made available under professional supervision. Please contact us if you have a specific query relating to maps.
