Postage rates within Great Britain
1805-1839
by Eunice Shanahan
Although it is slightly before the Regency period, this letter written in 1800 is a good example. The sender has put a note on the front of the letter "Two Sheets inclosed".
Note: we have 29 letters dated between 1805 & 1812, some of them with inexplicable charges on them. For instance the Southwell letter of 1808. Sleaford was 117 miles from London so that would be in the 8d rate for a single letter. If this was a double letter it would therefore be 2 x 8d = 1sh 4d, but the charge mark appears to be 1sh 2d. If it had to go to from Sleaford to London (8d), then London to Southwell 9d the combined cost would be 17 pence or 1sh 5d.
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There were two sets of rates in force during the Regency Period : under the Act of 1805 the rates were set for the cost of sending a single sheet letter. If a further sheet was enclosed in the letter the cost was double. If the letter weighed an ounce the cost was four times the base rate.
The postal official has written the weight 1oz (one ounce) and the correct postage due is therefore 4 times the base rate for the distance of between 60 and 100 miles i.e. 4 x 6d = 24d or 2/- (two shillings). Wisbeach was 89 miles from London.
The tables show the stages of distance - the cost involved, and then an example of a town within that range, or a linked image of a letter bearing that charge.
Then in 1812 the rates were changed to the following :
distance during 1805-1812
Cost in pence
Notes Not exceeding 15 miles 4 a 'one-horse stage' 15 to 30 miles 5 Leith/Haddington 30 to 50 miles 6 Tetsworth 50 to 80 miles 7 Dover 80 to 120 miles 8 Birmingham 120 to 170 miles 9 Derby 170 to 230 miles 10 Cardiff/Aberdare 230 to 300 miles 11 Newcastle-on-Tyne for every 100 miles above 300 add 2d Southwell
distance during 1812-1839
Cost in shillings & pence
Notes Not exceeding 15 miles 4d Southall above 15 less than 20 5d Leatherhead above 20 less than 30 6d Cardiff to Merthyr Tidvillesee letter above 30 less than 50 7d Luton above 50 less than 80 8d Chipping Norton above 80 less than 120 9d Dorchester above 120 less than 170 10d Bristol to London see letter above 170 less than 230 11d Dartmouth above 230 less than 300 1 Shilling (12d) Redruth above 300 less than 400 1s. 1d Edinburgh to London see letter above 400 less than 500 1s. 2d Glasgow above 500 less than 600 1s. 3d Aberdeen above 600 less than 700 1s. 4d Forres Scotland above 700 miles 1s. 5d Wick, Caithness
