Timeline of Key Dates
Throughout the centuries, the basic practice of a messenger carrying mail from sender to recipient has remained virtually unchanged.
Choose a Century, Decade or Year to find out how Britain's postal service developed.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| Jan 18011801 - Postage rate raised | Postage rates are raised over the next 15 years to generate revenue to fight the Napoleonic Wars; the end of the wars does not see the reduction in postal rates. |
| Jan 18011 January 1801 - Britain and Ireland unite | The Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland comes into effect, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. |
| Jan 18011801 - The London Twopenny Post | The London Penny Post becomes the London Twopenny Post. Post sent to, and within, outer, 'rural' areas, is charged at 3d. The London Foreign Office has its own delivery area and own offices to handle post coming from abroad. |
| Jan 18011801 - Villages can establish own posts | An Act of Parliament makes it legal for villages not currently served by the postal system to establish their own postal system or system of messengers to connect with the nearest post town. |
You may also be interested in...
Mail Rail exhibition
An exhibition of photographs capturing the entire Mail Rail network
Mail Rail ran from 1927 to 2003. These images show the hidden network that still lies beneath London.
