Trip to the Postal Museum
Vicariously, that is. My letter writing friend Jessica at The Open Home recently took a trip to the Postal Museum in the UK and kindly sent me an envelope filled with all sorts of info from this museum.
I thought I would share it with you. Maybe it will inspire you to plan a trip abroad. One day I will visit this museum while enroute to see Jessica in Guernsey.
From Pillar to Post; A Walking tour through London’s Postal History
For all us die hard snail mailers, just think of all the mysteries that will be solved if we visit this museum. Why are the pillar boxes are red? What is the difference between ‘the post’ and ‘the mail?’
I really must go.
Museum postcards
Aren’t these grand? And the book mark too. If anyone is interested, I still have the postcard with the car on it and would be thrilled to mail it to you. Leave a comment below and I’ll pick a recipient.
The life of a postman. Jolly or not.
No doubt after a trip to this museum we would have a better understanding of what the-day-in-the-life of a postal worker is, especially in years gone by.
Here is a very special story about a mail carrier in Canada who got to know the people on her route. It gives a glimpse into a part of the job that we may not think about.
The Jolly Postman
It looks like there are a ton of engaging, fascinating exhibits at the museum ranging from riding the mail rail to reading letters found on a ship wreck.
And for the kids there is this sweet activity/passport-like booklet that they can take around with them as they experience the museum.
I once met a real life jolly postman who had many tales to tell about his job and the people he met.
Have you ever visited this museum? Or another postal related site?
One of my favorite places is the Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History in Weston, Massachusetts, on the campus of Regis College. It’s small but has great displays and a cool stamp-themed gift shop.
Hi there Roseanne, Thank you so much for letting us know about this museum in Massachusetts. I hadn’t heard about it. Like the sounds of stamp-themed gift shop. 🙂
PS I see I got so excited about the UK postal museum, I didn’t see that you already knew about the Guernsey Letter Writers Society. I should have suspected….. 🙂
Too funny, this lovely snail mailing world, isn’t it. We are only a letter away from one another. 🙂 Have you been to Guernsey?
Hey there Melanie,
I forgot to ask if you would like me to send you that postcard? If so, please private msg my with your mailing address: ritewhileucan@gmail.com
Oooh, I would love seeing this so much. While you’re in the area (I know it would be a bit of a trek, but you’re already in that part of the world), maybe you could coordinate your visit with an occurrence of the Guernsey Letter Writers Society’s letter-writing gathering. The island also has the most unique and beautiful post boxes. They would love to hear about your Letter Writing Socials. Their gatherings are similar.
https://gsyletterwriters.com/about/
Yaasss to all of this, Melanie! Just reaffirms that I NEED to go there one day.