Maps
Our Archive holds over 700 maps. These cover the period 1757-c.1990. The majority date from the 19th century. We have maps showing the circulation of mail for all parts of Great Britain. We also have surveyors' maps and a few town maps.
Most of our maps can be found in POST 21, although maps related to particular topics can also be found in other classes. For example maps relating to the Travelling Post Office (TPO) mail trains can be found in POST 18.
Examples from our Collection
Here are some examples of maps in our collection:
Surveryors' map of East Anglia, 1813
This map of East Anglia indicates which horse posts were armed and which were not.
Map of postal districts in London, 1870
Postal districts preceded postcodes as a means for sorting the post.
Map of London, 1881
This map shows the area surrounding the present day Mount Pleasant Sorting Office.
Circulation map of Ireland, pre 1921
The Post Office was responsible for mail services throughout Ireland until 1921.
You may also be interested in...
Mail Coaches
An historical overview of the mail coach service
For around 100 years mail coaches were the fastest way to deliver mail - and carry passengers.
Moving the Mail
Exploring more than a century of mail delivery methods
Examining the move from horses to horsepower in the vehicles used by the Post Office and Royal Mail.
Postal Maps
Reprints of famous postal route maps published in the 1790s
Each pack contains beautifully reproduced maps showing inns and houses on delivery routes to and from London.
