Parcel Mail

The last horse-drawn delivery in 1905

Text by John Blackwell

A nightly parcel service between London and Brighton began in 1887. The last horse drawn journey was made on 31st May 1905, a motor van taking over the next night. The mail coach is standing outside the main post office in Ship Street, which opened on this site on 26th March 1849, but was expanded and rebuilt in 1892. In 1905 one could send a postcard in the morning which would be received in the afternoon.