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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 from 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 4] ‘ ;_,./ f’ 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 Office. Letters from 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 Office (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. H 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. W;a]Ll§ger,bg);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 Off1ce.— 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] 1902/03 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. O., T.M.O., Express delivery, Parcel Post, S.B. & 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 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—postrnaster, 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. & I. 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 Office — 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 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. [but he does not appear in the commercial list] 1915/16 Blue Book: Post, Money and Telegraph Office (under Canterbury) — Subpostmaster Mr R. Castle. Letters delivered at 7 a.m. and 12.45 pm; 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 & T elephonic Express Delivery Office — Richard Castle, sub-postmaster. Letters through Canterbury. Wall Letter Boxes. — Th_§_S_tre_et( & 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 Tclc. 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 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; (Public Tele. Call Office). 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 a.m. 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. O., 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 T ele. Call Office. Wall Letter Box, Bridge hill. 1928 Kelly: Post, M. O., 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 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. Wall Letter Box, Bridge hill. 1930 Kelly: Post, M. O., 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 Office (under Canterbury) 4 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 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.; Public Tele. Call Office. 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 Office (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 Canterbury. [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—postInaster. 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] MM Raraty 17/07/2015 (V. (JW:,1___: M J and G M Shirley ‘ Burnham House The Street mshirley@madasafish.com Bredgar Sittingbourne 01622 884279 KENT 07713 728894 ME9 8EX £2 [0 S70 22216 Notes about Bridge Post Office 1957-1965 by Martin Shirley My parents Samuel and Mary Shirley purchased the Post Office in 1957 with the assistance of my Aunt and Uncle, who moved in with us to spend their retirement. My Father had spent more than 25years in the Hampshire Police Service and was looking for a new career. The cost of the business at that time was I believe £2,500. The property with its associate cottage at the rear came in a rundown and poor structural condition. He had to spend his meagre resources in having a slightly improved lean-to kitchen built and then on a DIY basis we started to re-furbish the post office with a new counter and space for some business expansion. At that time there was no additional income other than provided by the Post Office excepting for some small amounts of stationery. Additional stationery together with cigarettes, tobacco and sweets were introduced. To improve sales my Mother would, on a weekly basis take them to The Close, at that time being used as a home for old people. The small cottage had no electricity , and limited running water. it was occupied for many years by a widow , Mrs Carpenter . These difficult times in Bridge were only 50 to 60 years ago ! The weekly Post Office accounting balance, which had to be done to the penny, was always a stress for my father and when l became a trainee accountant I became involved from time to time. My recollection was that it was a paper intensive and bureaucratic system , there were, of course, no computers or even adding machines at that time. Over the years life became slightly better for them, such that they were able to take a week's overseas annual holiday for the first time. In those days such holidays were fairly rare. My parents had no car and would walk or take the bus to Canterbury for their weekly outing. In 1965 my father at the age of 59 had a heart attack and was taken «:8 Kenf and . Canterbury Hospitai. To our great distress he had a further attack in the hospital and passed away. My brother Laurence Shiriey gave up his building business in Cambridgeshire and moved with Ann, John and Nicoias to take over the Post Office. My mother moved to Riverside C;/ose where she lived untii the age of 84. Both my parents are buried in Bridge churcfy »3,E<“r"’Z*§~ \“i?‘iS’ got THE DOVER ROAD, do not permit them to “stoop to conquer” the conquerors of their fluttering hearts. “I could worship that man,”. says the Fairy Queen in Iolomthe, gazing admiringly, upon “Private Willis of the 1‘: Grenadier Guards” ; and how much more Worshipful BRIDGE . than a foot—soldier are the “cavalry chaps” of the Canterbury depot I , It was a hundred yards or so along the road from Crutteridge Gate that two Dragoons figured in a highway robbery upon His Majesty’s Mails in 1789. The bells were chiming three o’clock in the morning of July 31 in that year when Daniel Goldup, the mounted postman, came up the hill fromi.Bridge with BRID GE the French mails slung across his horse’s back. he eased his pace in ascending the hill,three n walled upon him to stop. One of them he recogni. as a villager from Elham named Hills, and the 1 others he perceived to be Dragoons disguised sinock-frocks. Telling Hills he had no letters him, Groldup proceeded on his Way. Hills fired l missed, and the three then ran after him ; one lay: hold of the horse’s bridle While the other two sci: the mail-bags and rifled them. They detained l an hour While they examined the letters, and th tying. up the mai1—bags again, let him go. The village of Bridge, down below, takes its na from the small bridge that carries the road ‘over 1 Lesser Stour, It is a pretty and peaceful pl: today, with quaint boarded houses; a Norman a Early English church, containing some curious a grotesque carvings of Adam, and Eve; and encirci by Woods, the remote descendants of the almc impenetrable forests that once surrounded Cant bury, leaving only Barham Downs and their neig bouring chalk hills bare and islanded amid a sea greenery. Barham Downs commence immediately beyo Bridge. They have been the scene of many remar able gatherings, from the time of Julius Caesar the Waning years of the last century, when the Dow were alive with soldiers camping here in reaclim for that inglorious Armada that never left port N apoleon’s flotilla of Boulogne. - To go back to the year 55 13.0., when Caesar fi landed at Deal, may seem to the readers of evenii