Inked date stamps were at first called 'Bishops marks' after their inventor, Henry Bishop, Postmaster General, 1660-1663. The post office was receiving complaints about late arrival of the post. Bishop claimed: 'a stamp is invented, that is putt upon every letter shewing the day of the moneth that every letter comes to this office, so that no letter Carryer may dare to detayne a letter from post to post; which, before, was usual.' As we now know, this did not actually solve the problem, just provided more evidence that the problem existed.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
First postmarks in the world
Commemorated ati
General Letter Office
Near this spot the General Letter Office stood in Post House Yard, 1653 - 166...
Other Subjects
Morton's Jam Factory
The production of jam was actually a minor function of this factory, as it produced a wide range of canned foods (our picture shows tinsmiths at work). The Millwall Football Club was founded here, ...
1 memorial
Williams Deacon's Bank
The first record of this bank is in 1771 as Raymond, Williams, Vere, Lowe and Fletcher. Its name changed a number of times due to the comings and goings of partners. It was reconstituted in 1825 wi...
1 memorial
Edward Montague Nelson
Businessman and local politician. Born Warwick but spent most of his working life in London. His businesses tended to have colonial, especially Australian, connections. Lived at Hanger Hill House,...
2 memorials
James Perkins
Chairman of the Smithfield Markets Committee, 1888.
1 memorial
George Odger
Shoemaker and trade unionist. Born in Roborough, South Devon. His year of birth on the plaque (1820) contradicts most other sources. He was an itinerant shoemaker for several years before moving to...
1 memorial
Previously viewed
College of Minor Canons in St Paul’s Cathedral
In existence before 1066. Richard II formalised the structure. At that time they were 12 in number but are now down to three, responsible for singing services and organising large and small scale...
Building, Music / songs, Politics & Administration, Religion
1 memorial
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Hall of the Worshipful Company of Masons
From The Masons: "Between 1483 and 1865 the Masons’ Company Halls (both the pre and post Great Fire) stood on the site of what is now 12 Mason’s Avenue. A certain amount is known about both buildin...
1 memorial
Margery Allingham
W2, Westbourne Terrace Road, Hurlingham House
Margery Allingham, 1904 - 1966, writer of crime fiction and creator of Albert Campion, lived here, 1916 - 1926. City of Westminster
2 subjects commemorated,
1 creator
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