Collaton St Mary

The Post Office

The land on which the Post Office now stands was owned by Samuel Rossiter in the 1850s. On his death in August 1857, the rents and profits on the real estate were bequethed to his widow Grace Rossiter. On her death in January 1874, the land was sold to William Barnes at the request of the surviving children of the Rossiter family; one of the daughters, Ellen Rossiter, died aged 21 in June 1867 and was buried in Collaton St Mary Churchyard. William Barnes died in January 1892, leaving the land complete with tenants to his children. One of the tenants was Richard John Barter Pope, occupying the Blacksmith's shop. Richard Pope purchased the Blacksmith's shop and around 15 yds of garden (which was in the occupation of W.G.H. May) for the sum of £100.

The first mention of the Post Office wasn't until 1902 in Kelly's Directory, where Richard Pope is the Sub-Postmaster. Postal orders were issued but not cashed. Paignton, 2 miles away, is the nearest money order and telegraph office. In 1926 it was recorded that the Post Office was run by Mrs Jane Pope, the widow of Richard.

Extract from Kelly's Directory, 1902

"Post Office. Richard Pope sub-postmaster. Letters through Paignton arrive at 7.15am & 6.10pm ; box cleared at 8.45 am & 6.15 pm; Sunday, 8.45 am. Postal Orders are issued here, but not paid. Paignton, 2 miles distant, is the nearest money order and telegraph office."

1933 saw the change to a "Post and Telephone Call Office".   In 1939, Richard and Jane Pope's son took over as shopkeeper and sub-postmaster, where he stayed until August 1946, when the Post Office was sold to Mr Speare.   Throughout the following 40 years the Post Office changed hands more than ten times.

Post Office Proprietors