Post Offices
Post Offices
The Post Office, the United Kingdom’s leading mail and parcel carrier, is structured into three distinct business divisions. These divisions are as follows: Royal Mail, which holds a monopoly on letter services and operates profitably; Parcelforce, which competes with private companies in parcel delivery and operates at a loss; and Post Office Counters, which generates a modest profit by providing the group’s services to the public and acting as an agent for government functions such as disbursing state pensions and licensing motor vehicles.
For most of its history, the Post Office was a civil service department overseen by a political figure, the Postmaster General. However, since 1969, it has transformed into a public corporation, aligning with other nationalized industries like British Railways.
The origins of the Post Office can be traced back to the crown’s need for message and dispatch delivery. While initially intended for the crown’s exclusive use, private individuals began to unofficially utilize the service. In 1635, the situation was clarified with the establishment of a public service under the supervision of Thomas Witherings. However, in 1637, Witherings lost his monopoly, leading to a period of competition among various parties for this profitable privilege.
In 1653, the crown made the decision to auction off the postal monopoly to the highest bidder, who could then generate revenue from fees and perquisites while adhering to government-mandated rates. Delegating the service to a contractor for a fixed sum under government control continued even after the Restoration. Rates were established by an act in 1660, and the contractor paid £21,500. A portion of the income was retained by Charles II to fund pensions for his mistresses, while the remainder was assigned to his brother, the Duke of York. When James II succeeded Charles as king in 1685, the Post Office’s revenue reverted to the crown. It remained a significant component of royal finances until 1760 when George III relinquished control of it to the government as part of his financial settlement with Parliament.
Read more at https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/21/POST-OFFICE-GROUP.html
Birstwith Post Office
Location: 1 Elton Ln, Birstwith, Harrogate HG3 2NF – Phone: 01423 770271
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Knaresborough Post Office – Visit the website here
Location: 49 High St, Knaresborough HG5 0HB – Phone: 01423 860414
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Markington Post Office – Visit the website here
Location: 31 High St, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate HG3 5JZ – Phone: 01765 677358
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Pateley Bridge Post Office – Visit the website here
Location: The Dales Market Corner, Low Wath Rd, Pateley Bridge,
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Post Office – Visit the website here
Location: 11 Cambridge Rd, Harrogate HG1 1AA – Phone: 0345 611 2970
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Post Office Ripon – Visit the website here
Location: 1 Finkle St, Ripon HG4 1AA – Phone: 01765 605618
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Starbeck Post Office – Visit the website here
Location: 51 High St, Harrogate HG2 7LQ – Phone: 01423 819404
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Summerbridge Post Office – Visit the website here
Location: Summerbridge, Harrogate HG3 4JF
Post Offices