Moving the Mail: Horses to Horsepower is the latest exhibition from The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA). It traces the fascinating history of road transport in the postal service in the UK. Moving the Mail will be at the Coventry Transport Museum (England) from 5th August till 24th October 2006. The exhibition features rarely-seen vehicles from the BPMA collection together with images from The Royal Mail Archive.

From an 1850s mail coach to the iconic BSA Bantam motorbikes and the much loved Postbus, postal service vehicles have been a familiar part of peoples lives for centuries, speedily moving the mail through busy cities, remote villages and terrible perils such as two world wars and even an escaped circus lion!

The postal service has always been at the forefront of advances in technology and Moving the Mail is a reflection and celebration of this. At the forefront of advances in steam, electric and ‘oil drives’, it was following the First World War that the postal service first introduced its own motorised fleet and stopped relying on contractors. Postal service vehicles were purposefully designed and manufactured by famous and innovative car manufacturers such as Morris and Daimler. The classic Morris Minor and Morris Commercial can both be seen in this unique exhibition.

The star of Moving the Mail is the original 1930s Mobile Post Office. This ‘office on wheels’ is a memorial to an interesting and exciting life of taking counters to the community. Steeped in history and character, it tells countless tails of journeys to fairs, race meetings and other grand days out. It can now be enjoyed by a new generation thanks to extensive restoration work by the coachbuilders, S Cartwright & Sons in Altrincham, Cheshire.

Alongside these wonderful motor vehicles, Moving the Mail is also testament to a marvellous mix of mail coaches, cycles and motorcycles. Come to Coventry this northern summer and journey with the post from horses to horsespower.

Moving the Mail: Horses to Horsepower will be at Coventry Transport Museum from 5th August 2006 until 24th October 2006, 10.00am - 5.00pm daily. Admission is free.

Coventry Transport Museumis located in Millennium Place, Hales Street, Coventry CV1 1PN, England

Telephone + 44 (0) 24.7623.4270

List of objects in Moving the Mail

1850s Mail coach
1940s Horse Drawn Mail Van
1910 Dennis Van (1970 replica)
1935 Morris Minor
1961 Morris Minor
1956 Morris Commercial
1937/54 Seddon Mobile Post Office
1973 BSA Bantam
1883 Centre Cycle (1930s replica)
1956 Inspectors Bicycle
1980s Pashley Delivery Bicycle
2000/02 Mail Star Cycle
Landrover Postbus

About the Coventry Transport Museum

Coventry Transport Museum displays the world’s largest collection of British road transport and has recently completed a £6.9million development, including four brand new galleries. Its Collection includes 240 cars and commercial vehicles, 100 motorcycles, over 200 cycles and around one million archives and ephemera items and it represents Coventry’s unique heritage as the birthplace of British road transport. It is located in the heart of Coventry city centre, in close proximity to the bus and rail stations and easily accessible by car.

About the British Postal Museum & Archive

The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) is the leading resource for all aspects of British postal history. From staff record to stamps and from transport to telegrams it cares for the visual, written and physical records from over 400 years of innovation and service.

The BPMA is a combined Museum and Archive, bringing together The Royal Mail Archive and a Museum Store which both illuminate the fascinating story of communication in Britain and throughout the world.

The BPMA is working towards opening a new combined site, where the Museum collections will be permanently available to the public alongside The Royal Mail Archive.

The Archive Search Room is open to the public to use and enjoy from 10.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday, and until 7.00pm on Thursdays. It attracts and inspires academics, design students, philatelists and family historians from all over the country. The Archive is located in Freeling House, Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DL.

The Museum Store is open to the public on various dates throughout the year, and is enjoyed by visitors of all ages, Royal Mail employees and the local community. The Store is located in Loughton, Essex, IG10 3UD and houses the museum collection. This consists of vehicles, bicycles, letter boxes and all equipment affiliated with postal history. A remarkable collection steeped in memories and social history.

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