The 'Market Place' Post Office journey.

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

On the Facebook group Bygone Bedlington a member, Ian Foster, posted this clip from the BBC archives when the BBC was looking for the 'Market Place' Post office and you will need the volume turned up to listen to this :-

https://bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/611257809e2c440020e8f292?selectedLatLng=55.13239860534668%2C-1.5979957580566406&zoom=11

So I checked the journey of the Post Office

When it was in the Market Place :-

Then it moved to 40 front Street East and was still called the Market Place Post Office :-

 

Where it is now - Google Street View 2024 - 20 Front Street

 

 

[Canny lass]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you there, Alan.

I think this is Front Street West, Alan – same building you show in your second photo.

The Bedlington PO has a long history and it first appeared on OS maps about the time the postal service was being developed. The first PO in Bedlington was also on Front Street West but nearer to the Market Place than to the Red Lion as you will be able to see on the 1860 OS map below:  

In 1897 the PO began to appear in the Market Place on the OS map of that year shown below:

It remains in that location on those maps I’ve looked at until at least 1967 (Copyright prevents me looking at anything more recent) and I can remember using it then.

It later moved from the Market Place, as you rightly say, but I have no recollection of it moving to Front Street East and I can’t remember any buildings on Front Street East with a low wall in front as can be seen in your photos. 

I returned to Bedlington in the 80s for a while and the PO was then located on Front Street West but further up the street towards the top end (Red Lion). It had a small walled area in front. I’m pretty sure that’s it in your photo which I’ve reproduced above.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Canny lass