The Post Office.

~ The Post Office ~

Furness postal history began with the opening of the post office¹ at Ulverston⁷ in 1793. This office served the whole rural area, including Dalton. Subsequently there was a foot post to Dalton and Barrow⁸, leaving Ulverston at 6.45am., the carrier walking to Dalton and on to Barrow, delivering and collecting on the way. He returned to Ulverston at 5pm. Dalton became part of the Ulverston Penny Post in 1836, so, presumably there was a 'receiving house' in Dalton. An ornate stamp, 'No.5', was allotted and this was applied in red ink from 1836 until 1840 when the Penny Post was introduced. In 1841 Dalton was issued with a neat, undated circular stamp which was also applied in red, but in later years, from 1844 onwards, was applied in blue. The foot post continued until 1869, from which time the railway was used.

Early Postmarks, 1836 - 40

Early Postmarks: (a) Handstamp. Used from 1836-40. (b) Undated stamp. 1841 onwards. By courtesy of Mr. Ernest Boddy.

It is reported that in 1858 the post office² at Dalton was situated in one of four cottages built against the north wall of the castle¹². Miss Mary Lawrence was the postmistress, and she shared the house with her sister and brother-in-law. Some time after 1858, these houses were demolished, and the post office was moved either to a house nearby in Castle Street, or to the site at 73, Market Street, presently being used as a charity shop for St. Mary's Hospice, but formerly by Norweb as their showroom. There can be no doubt that this is where the post office was situated in 1876 when the post master was Mr Christopher Godby. From a number of letters in the contemporary press, it is quite obvious that during Mr. Godby's term of office, the postal arrangements left much to be desired. A gentleman signing himself 'Progress', writing in the Dalton News, 9 May 1885, complains that there is no postal delivery to the outlying areas of the town; but perhaps the most informative and interesting account of conditions at the time is contained in the following letter published one week earlier in the same newspaper.
Sir, I have been much struck with the inconvenience the public suffer in consequence of the very defective structural arrangements at the Post Office³. There is no proper desk provided for writing telegrams, the shop counter only being the miserable substitute for that much needed commodity. Consequently, when writing a telegram, the sender has the privilege of being overlooked by the congregation of persons standing around him… Further, it is high time that telegrams could be sent, and stamps purchased from the hour of opening to the hour of closing the office. Under present regulations a telegram can only be sent after the clock has struck eight in the morning, although the office has been open at least an hour before that time, and postage stamps can only be purchased up to eight o'clock in the evening, although the post does not close until half-past eight… I have observed an unfortunate victim standing by the letter box after eight o'clock in the evening, begging of a passer-by to sell him a stamp to enable him to post his letter. Trusting the tyrannical regulations imposed on the inhabitants of Dalton by the Postal Authorities, will be promptly regulated in accordance with the progressive spirit of the age, and accommodation afforded as in other towns, I beg to subscribe myself, your obedient servant.

In September 1885, local ratepayers petitioned the postal authorities in London, complaining of the unsatisfactory accommodation in the post office⁴, and requesting that a new building be erected for the purpose on the vacant plot of land at the corner of Station Road (formerly occupied by the malt kiln). Although this petition must have been considered by the authorities, it is obvious that no action was taken other than perhaps modest improvements to the existing office; another 40 years was to elapse before the post office was finally to be moved.
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