The
impressive Southwold Post Office building has no street
number but sits between No 43 and 45. It was apparently
erected in two stages during the reigns of Victoria
and George V as evidenced from the carved dates: 'VR
1895' on the right and 'GR 1911' on the left. Did
this grand new office replace the more modest one
run at No 80
High Street by Eaton Womack Moore?
1896 Mrs Elizabeth Ada Haines - Post Office
Stamp Distributor (K1896)
1908 Robert Dade Forrest - Postmaster
and Stamp Distributor (K1908)
1916 Robert Dade Forrest - Postmaster and
Stamp Distributor (K1916)
1924 Earnest George Mitchell - Postmaster
and Stamp Distributor (K1924)
1933 Earnest George Mitchell - Postmaster
and Stamp Distributor (K1933)
There is no entry in the 1937 Kelly's Directory for
a post office in the High Street
but there is one recorded at 17
Stradbroke Road between 1908 and 1937.
?
1955
In the small hours of Friday 4th March a fire breaks out, the building has to close and, on 11th March, the Post
Office reopens in a temporary home across the road
at No 40a High
Street. (Lowestoft Jnl 11 March 1955)
?
?
?
?
Date Guy Mitchell - Postmaster and toy
shop owner. The business is now called SPOTS (Southwold
Post Office and Toy Shp). Guy Mitchell also owns the
gift shop at No
36 East Street
Do you have any memories or records about this address? Can you correct
any of our information or fill in any of our blanks? If so, please email
Barry Tolfree
Our forum facility has been withdrawn by the provider. Sorry for the inconvenience. We are looking for an alternative.
SOURCES: BSD - Bernard Segrave-Daly
BCS = Bygones & Characters of Southwold by Barrett Jenkins
C = Census
CP = Cinema Programme 1958
CSP = Coronation Souvenir Programme 1953
G = Gales Trade Directory
GRO = General Register Office
K = Kelly's Directory
LM = Local memory
M = James Maggs' Southwold Diary 1818-1876
MCG = Methodist Church Guide 1930
NA = National Archives
PP = Pantomime Programme 1933
PLR = Petrol Licence Records
POD = Post Office Directory
PPP = Pier Pavilion Programme 1924, 1926
RCE = Rotary Club Exhibition 1969
SCM = Southwold Catholic Magazine 1923
SCTG = Southwold Corporation Tourist Guide
SER = Southwold Electoral Register
SFP = Southwold Scouts Fete Programme 1947
SG = Southwold Guide
SGCH = Southwold Golf Club Handbook
SLHR = Southwold Local History Recorder 1980s 1990s (Mrs R. McDermot)
SMHS = Southwold Museum & Historical Society
SN = Southwold & Neighbourhood 1903
SPM = Southwold Parish Magazine 1895 -1954
SR = Southwold Recorder 1927, 1932, 1934, 1935
SRB = Southwold Rate Book
SRT = Southwold Railway Timetable 1915
SSAS = Southwold Sea Angling Society Handbook 1909
SST = Southwold Summer Theatre Programmes
SSW = Southwold Shopping Week Programme, June/July 1922
STG = Southwold Town Guide 1930
SVL = Southwold Visitors List 1907, 1930
SVCP = Southwold Victory Celebration Programme 1946
SWCG = Southwold Wesleyan Church Guide
TTR = 'The Town Revisited' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden
2000
TTT = ''To The Town' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 1988
W = White’s History, Gazetteer and Directory of Suffolk 1874
Note
on dates Unless
otherwise stated, dates given do not indicate the years in which the business
started or finished but those for which there is firm evidence that
it was trading at this address. Sources in brackets; key at bottom of page.
