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 Wednesday at 23:50 by Canny lass

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

9 hours ago, Canny lass said:

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.

 

 

 

@Canny lass - it's just me not thinking straight - again -  yes Front Street West.

 

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

 

@Canny lass - for the Google strett view shots I actually typed in Front Street West Bedlington for my initial search as I knew that's where the PO was. So me then typing Front Street East can only be put down to Mild Cognitive Impairment or Onset of Dementia.  It's like been back at school and I can here the teacher saying - Edgar stop stairing out the window and concentrate  

[Canny lass]

Mild Cognitive Impairment? Never heard of it! I call that sort of thing ”having a senior moment” - mind you, I’ve been having them frequently since I was 30!

[James]

On 04/02/2026 at 20:46, Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) said:

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

 

 

According to Stephen Martin's booklet about Bedlington, the first Post Office  was in the Baptist Yard. 

 

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

Cheers @James - I hadn't remembered that one 

[Canny lass]

That is interesting! I would love to see it confirmed somewhere. Does Martin give any reference to the source of that information? Perhaps the booklet contains a list of references to literature, maps etc. used by him when compiling the booklet. If so, could you post a copy here please.

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

6 hours ago, Canny lass said:

That is interesting! I would love to see it confirmed somewhere. Does Martin give any reference to the source of that information? Perhaps the booklet contains a list of references to literature, maps etc. used by him when compiling the booklet. If so, could you post a copy here please.

@Canny lass - I only have one booklet by S B Martin and I will have a look through it and see what's in it (it's years ago I got t of ebay). I have googled it but no copies avialble. This is the cover :-

Don't know if that is the one  @James is referring to.

 

When I was Googling for Stephen B Martin books on Bedlington this one came up :-

 

[Vic Patterson]

7 hours ago, Canny lass said:

That is interesting! I would love to see it confirmed somewhere. Does Martin give any reference to the source of that information? Perhaps the booklet contains a list of references to literature, maps etc. used by him when compiling the booklet. If so, could you post a copy here please.

Unfortunately he doesn't give any references but only acknowledgements.