The Post Office in Blairgowrie

‘The post office is a wonderful establishment! The regularity and dispatch of it! If one thinks of all that it has to do, and all that it does so well, it is really astonishing!’ – ‘Emma’ by Jane Austen (1775-1817)

Like many communities, Blairgowrie and Rattray has struggled at times to retain its Post Office. This is an attempt to chronicle the history of our town’s Post Office, including several changes of location, as well as some of the changes in the service that have taken place nationally. 

1796 

According to the Third Statistical Account of Scotland published in 1979: ‘A Post Office was first established at Blairgowrie on 5 July 1796. Prior to this date Blairgowrie was served from Coupar Angus, then the terminus of a road from Perth.’ 

In ‘A Social History of Blairgowrie and Rattray’ Margaret Laing records that ‘Until 1801, mail was delivered to Blairgowrie via Coupar Angus by a route from Perth to the bridge over the River Isla at Meikleour, then collected by runners.’ Runners were also known as letter carriers, until 1883 when the name was officially changed to postmen. 

John A. R. Macdonald in ‘The History of Blairgowrie’ gives the name of Blairgowrie’s first letter carrier. He was Allan Heron, who was born in Blairgowrie in 1797 and died in 1871 aged 74. 

Changes of Location

High Street - In his book published in 1899, John A. R. Macdonald records that the first location was in the High Street: 

‘about the end of last century business was carried on in a small shop (now demolished) on the site of which Keay’s buildings in High Street are now erected.’

7 Allan Street and 23 High Street - John A.R. Macdonald goes on to say: ‘When business necessitated increased accommodation, several changes were made – to No 7 Allan Street, and latterly to 23 High Street, adjoining the Queen’s Hotel.’ 

First Postage Stamps 

The invention of the adhesive postage stamp by Sir Rowland Hill in 1837 was a key milestone for the Post Office, and just 3 years later the Penny Black was established. 

Read about the Penny Black at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Black

First Pillar Boxes 

The Post Office Pillar Box was introduced in 1852.

In ‘The History of Blairgowrie’ John A.R. Macdonald writes ‘For the convenience of the public, receiving boxes are placed at the foot of Leslie Street, foot of Newton Street, and top of Dunkeld Road.’ The original Dunkeld Road post box may still be seen in the wall of the house at 103 Perth Road, although it is now painted black. 

Robert Ayson was Blairgowrie’s Postmaster from 1823 until he died in 1863 aged 82. Following his death, Helen Ayson (possibly his niece) took on the role of Postmistress. She resigned in 1871 before marrying Mungo Clark, a Tailor and Clothier, in December 1871. Helen Ayson’s successor was James Robertson Forbes who was appointed in January 1872. Sadly, he died on 29 November 1876 at the age of 29. 

On Saturday 13 January 1877 the Dundee Courier reported:

BLAIRGOWRIE 

‘Post Office – We understand that Miss McHardie has been appointed post mistress here, in room of Mr Forbes deceased. Miss McHardie has been for several years engaged in the office as assistant. The appointment has given general satisfaction in the place. There were a good number of applications for the office.’ Jane McHardie served as Postmistress until she retired shortly before the 1901 Census. She lived at Rose Cottage, Upper Allan Street, until her death there in 1926 at the age of 85. 

1 High Street

Another move saw the Post Office located at 1 High Street by 1901.

In 1921 Blairgowrie General Post Office was downgraded to a sub-office of Perth. 

The General Post Office (GPO) was dissolved on 1 October 1969 as a result of the Post Office Act, and its assets were transferred to the Post Office. At the same time the GPO Telegraph and Telephones Department changed to Post Office Telecommunications, which in turn became British Telecommunications (BT) in 1981 as a result of the British Telecommunications Act. 

11 Perth Street

Blairgowrie Post Office moved again in the 1970s to 11 Perth Street. 

First Electronic Mail 

It was in 1971 that the way we communicate changed, when Ray Tomlinson, an American Computer Programmer, developed electronic mail. 

Was it the comparison between the speed of email and ‘snail mail’ that led to the creation of Post Codes in 1974 in an attempt to increase the efficiency of mail distribution? 

In 1981 the postal service was transferred from the Post Office to Royal Mail. 

66-68 High Street

On Thursday 30 July 1992 the Blairgowrie Advertiser gave advance notice of another move for Blairgowrie Post Office from 11 Perth Street to a site inside the North Tayside Co-operative at 66-68 High Street. The new Post Office would open on Monday 12 October 1992. 

Wellmeadow

By 2013 the Post Office was on the move again, to the Co-op in the Wellmeadow. 

7 Perth Street

Five years later the Post Office moved to its present location at 7 Perth Street with Sandy Sarwar as the new Postmaster. 

Sub Post Offices

In ‘A Social History of Blairgowrie and Rattray’ we are reminded that in addition to the main Post Office, the Blairgowrie area had sub-postoffices in Old Rattray, New Rattray, Ballintuim, Bridge of Cally, Forneth, Glenshee, Kirkmichael, Westfields and Craigie. 

Under the heading Unique Record of Postal Service, the Dundee Evening Telegraph on Friday 6 November 1936 reported that Mrs William Mitchell would be retiring from her post as sub-postmistress at Westfields Post Office on 30 November 1936 after twelve and a half years’ service. The Mitchell family had been in charge of Westfields Post Office for almost 77 years. 

William Mitchell had been sub-postmaster for 33 years, while his father before him had held the post for more than 31 years.