The fortunes of Bridge post office

1838 Stapleton: Post Master Richard Sherrard, White Horse Inn

1839 Pigot: Post Office, Bridge, Frederick Colegate, [carpenter] Post Master. Letters fiom London &c arrive (by
foot-post from Canterbury) every morning at seven, and are despatched every evening at half-past six.

1844/45 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) Sub-postmaster Mr W[illiam] Perry,
grocer; letters delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45; despatched 10.30a.m. and 8.5p.m. Post Office: The Street.

1847 Bagshaw: Post Office — at Mr Richard Sherrard’s. Letters arrive at 7a.m. and are despatched at 45 min. past 6
p.m. [at the White Horse]

1861 Census: Ann Sherrard (widow, 55) Post Mistress

1871 Census: Anne Sherrard (widow, 65) Post Mistress

1881 Census: Alfred Prior (31) Postmaster & grocer

1888/89 Bedwell:Perry, Wm., Post Office and grocer

1890 Kelly: William Perry, grocer & provision dealer, The Post Ofiice. Letters fi'om Canterbury arrive by mail cart 6
a.m. & 12.45 p.m. dispatched at 10 a.m. & 8 p.m.

1891 Census: William Perry (35) Grocer, sub-postmaster, Riverdale, High Street

1893/94 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Ofiice (under Canterbury); Sub-Postmaster, Mr W. Perry, grocer
[The Street]; letters delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45; despatched 10.30 a.m. and 8.5 p.m.

1897/98 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury); Sub-Postmaster, Mr J [ohn].C. Wilson,
chemist; letters delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45; despatched 10.30 a.m. and 8.5 p.m.

1899 Kelly: Post, M.O. & T.O. S.B., Express Delivery & Annuity & Insurance office — J .C.Wilson, sub-postmaster.
Letters from Canterbury arrive by mail cart at 5.30 a.m. & 12.45 p.m.; dispatched at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.;
Sundays at 2.5 p.m. Wall letter box cleared at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.

1899/1900 Kelly:Post, M.O. & T.O., S.B. & Annuity & Insurance Office. — John C. Wilson, sub-postmaster. Letters
from Canterbury arrive by mail cart at 5 .30 a.m. & 12.45 p.m.; dispatched at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; sundays
2.5 p.m. Wall Letter Box cleared at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; sundays, 2 p.m.

1901 Census: John C. Wilson (36) Chemist & postmaster [corner of Brewery lane next to plough & Harrow]

1902/O3 Kelly: Post, M.O. & T.O., S.B. & Annuity & Insurance Office. — John C. Wilson, sub-postmaster. Letters
from Canterbury arrive by mail cart at 5 .30 a.m. & 12.45 p.m.; dispatched at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; sundays
2.5 p.m. Wall Letter Box cleared at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; sundays, 2 p.m.

1903 Kelly: Post, M.O. & T. 0., T.M.O., Express delivery, Parcel Post, S.B. & Annuity & Insurance Office —

J .C.Wilson, sub-postmaster. Letters fi'om Canterbury arrive by mail cart at 5.30 a.m. & 12.45 p.m.;
dispatched at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; sundays 2.5 p.m. Wall Letter Box cleared at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.;
sundays, 2 p.m.

1904/05 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Sub-postmaster, Mr F. Bedingfield,
grocer. Letters delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45; Despatched 10.30 a.m. and 8 p.m. [Frank Bedingfield, grocer
and general dealer, The Street; postmaster] [J .C.Wilson still in business]

1905/06 Kelly: Post, M.O. & T.O. S.B. & Annuity & Insurance office — Frank Bedingfield, sub-postmaster. Letters
from Canterbury arrive by mail cart at 5.20 a.m. & 12.45 p.m.; dispatched at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; sundays 2
p.m. Wall Letter Box cleared at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; sundays, 2 p.m.

1907 Kelly: Post, T. M. 0., S. B., A. & 1. Office — Mrs Edith Bowler, sub-postmistress. Letters from Canterbury
arrive by mail cart at 5.20 a.m. & 12.45 p.m.; dispatched at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; sundays at 2 p.m. Wall
Letter Box The Street, cleared at 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; sundays, 2 p.m. Wall Letter Box, Bridge Hill, cleared
at 10.15 a.m. & 7.55 p.m.; Sundays 1.55 p.m.

1911/12 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Sub-postmaster R[ichard] Castle.
Letters delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45; despatched, 10.15 a.m. and 8.40 p.m. [Arthur J Castle The Street was a
baker]

1913 Kelly: Post, M. O. & T. & Telephonic Express delivery Office — Richard Castle [stationer] , sub-postmaster.
Letters from Canterbury arrive by mail cart at 5.20 a.m. & 12.30 p.m.; dispatched at 10.15 a.m. & 8.45 p.m.;
sundays at 2 p.m. Wall Letter Box, the Street, cleared at 10.10 a.m. & 8.40 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Wall
Letter Box Bridge Hill, cleared at 10.5 a.m. & 8.35 p.m.; Sundays 1.55 p.m.

1915 Kelly: Post, M. O. & T. & Telephonic Express delivery Oflice — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters from
Canterbury arrive by mail cart at 5.20 a.m. & 12.30 p.m.; dispatched at 10.15 a.m. & 8.45 p.m.; sundays at 2
p.m. Wall Letter Box, the Street, cleared at 10.10 am. & 8.40 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Wall Letter Box Bridge
Hill, cleared at 10.5 a.m. & 8.35 p.m.; Sundays 1.55 p.m. [but he does not appear in the commercial list]

1915/16 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Ofiice (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 p.m; despatched 10.15 a.m. and 8.40 p.m.; Sundays 2 p.m. (Public Tele. Call
Office) Wall Letter Box, Bridge hill, 10.5 a.m.; 8.35 p.m.


1918 Kelly: Post, M. O. & T & Telephonic Express Delivery Office — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters through
Canterbury. Wall Letter Boxes. — The Street & Bridge Hill.

1919/20 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 p.m.; despatched 11.15 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Sundays 2 p.m. (Public Tele. Call
Office). Wall Letter Box, Bridge hill.

1920-21 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 p.m.; despatched 11.15 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Sundays 2 p.m. (Public Tele. Call
Office). Wall Letter Box, Bridge hill.

1921 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 p.m.; despatched 11.15 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Sundays 2 p.m. (Public Tele. Call
Office). Wall Letter Box, Bridge hill.

1922 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 p.m.; despatched 11.15 am. and 7.45 p.m.; (Public Tele. Call Ofiice). Wall
Letter Box, Bridge hill.

1923 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 p.m.; despatched 11.15 am. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall
Letter Box, Bridge hill.

1924 Kelly: Post, M. 0., T. & T. E. D. Office — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters through Canterbury.

1924 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 p.m.; despatched 11.15 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall
Letter Box, Bridge hill.

1925 Kelly: Post, M. 0., T. & T. E. D. Office — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters through Canterbury.

1927 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 p.m.; despatched 11.15 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall
Letter Box, Bridge hill.

1928 Kelly: Post, M. 0., T. & T. E. D. Office — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters through Canterbury.

1929 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 p.m.; despatched 11.15 am. and 7 .45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall
Letter Box, Bridge hill.

1930 Kelly: Post, M. 0., T. & T. E. D. Office. Letters through Canterbury.

1930 Kelly: Post, M. 0., S. B., T. & T. E. D. Office — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters through Canterbury.

1930/31 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.; despatched at 10.30 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall Letter
Box, Bridge hill.

1931/32 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.; despatched at 10.30 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall Letter
Box, Bridge hill.

1933 Kelly: Post, M. 0., T. & T. E. D. Office — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters through Canterbury.

1934 Kelly: Post, M. 0., T. & T. E. D. Office. Letters through Canterbury. [Castle Rd. deputy registrar of births &

‘ deaths, Bridge district, Post office]

1934 Kelly: Post, M. 0., T. & T. E. D. Office. Letters through Canterbury.

1934 Kelly: Castle Rd. deputy registrar of births & deaths for Bridge district & sub-postmaster, Post office.

1935 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.; despatched at 10.5 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall Letter
Box, Bridge hill.

1936 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.; despatched at 10.5 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall Letter
Box, Bridge hill.

1937 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Ofiice (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.; despatched at 10.5 a.m. and 7 .45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall Letter
Box, Bridge hill.

1938 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Letters
delivered at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.; despatched at 10.5 am. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Ofiice. Wall Letter
Box, Bridge hill.

1938 Kelly: Rd. Castle Deputy Registr b & d , ins. Agt. & P.O. [typed copy]

1939 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Oflice (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster, Mr R. Castle. Public Tele.
Call Office. Wall Letter Box, Bridge hill.

1939 Kelly: Post, M.O., T&T.E.D. Office — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters through Canterbmy. [Castle Rd.
deputy registrar of births & deaths for Bridge registration districe & sub-postmaster, Post office]

1940 Kelly: Post, M.O., T.&T.E.D. Office — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters through Canterbury.


1940 Kelly (incl Pike’s Blue Book): Post, M.O., T.&T.E.D. Office — Richard Castle, sub—postmaster. Letters through
Canterbury. [Castle Rd. deputy registrar of births & deaths for Bridge registration districe & sub-postmaster,
Post office]
1949 Kelly: Post, M.O., T.&T.E.D. Office — George Henry Roberts, sub—postmaster. Letters through Canterbury.
1952 Kelly: Post M.O., T. Acceptance Office. — George Henry Roberts, sub-postmaster, Letters through Canterbury.
1955 Kelly: Post M.O., T. Acceptance Office. — George Henry Roberts, sub-postmaster, Letters through Canterbury.
[Samuel Shirley ? — 1965]
[Laurence Shirley 1965-1998]