250th anniversary of mail services in Boxford

Boxford Post Office and the whole village has marking 250 years of postal services in the Suffolk village. They really went to town and there was a huge turn out.

Richard Haining is postmaster for Boxford Post Office, Swan Street, Boxford, Suffolk, CO10 5PA. Richard dressed for the occasion and was involved with a re-enactment with the local drama group.

Here are some of the activities that took place:

  • Former Boxford Postmaster Richard Gates, who is a campanologist rang the church bells at 1pm.
  • Demonstration of playing a Post horn which was played to herald the arrival of a mail coach to send their mail or to ride on the mail coach inside or out.
  • David Waspe, dressed in period dress will arrive by horse to deliver mail as a re-enactment of 250 years ago
  • Two letters will be delivered to Parish Cllr Burden and Community Council representative Ward Baker will read out the letters.
  • There is a former jail in Boxford. There was a re-enactment by the Boxford drama group of someone attempting to steal mail from postmaster Richard Haining and being arrested and thrown into jail for highway robbery
  • The former jail has been turned into Boxford Museum, which officially opened on the Saturday and and it feature lots of postal history and memorabilia
  • One of the shops in Boxford is thought to be one of the oldest shops in the UK.
  • The Fleece pub is where the mail coaches used to come to. Staff will be dressed as wenches or peasants to serve customers.
  • An opera singer, Mark Saberton, who is a friend of the current PM performed
  • All the pubs and cafes put on music
  • The local school and brownies did stamp designs which were on display and youngsters attended
  • Fancy dress competition for adult and children