History of Mail in UK
Throughout time, our ability to communicate has long effected economical, social, cultural and political developments. In the 4th millennium BC, the increasing trade businesses required a new way of recording and keeping permanent records of transactions. The first written communications were a labour intense project involving carving in stone or writing on extremely thin sheets of clay that were baked. Basic writing tools once consisted of stone, clay and even wax tablets; and eventually vellum, parchment and paper as a base and styluses, quills, ink brushes and pens to mark with.
Early distribution of written documents was simply passing it from one person to the next, but as populations grew and spread, the need to send documents further required creative methods of transporting documents. The first recorded development of a formal method of delivery of documents, or mail, is in Egypt in 2400 BC when pharaohs utilized couriers to deliver decrees throughout their territory.
Over the centuries, various methods of mail delivery were experimented with. Homing pigeons were a long used form of airmail, but were greatly limited in weight and range. The most reliable form of distribution continued to be delivery by hand, but the method continued to be hindered by limited transportation across long distances and water. Long distance mail delivery over the centuries included; dogsled, mule, horseback, balloons, ship and eventually, railway.
The Royal Mail service of the United Kingdom dates back to 1516 when Henry VIII first established a Master of Posts but did not become available to the public until 1635. Between 1719 and 1763 contracts began to formalize and expand Britain’s postal network. He brought about the organization of horse drawn coaches designated specifically for mail delivery and made mail delivery quicker as the coaches stopped only for the delivery of mail and not for the comfort of passengers.
The development of mail delivery is invaluable to business and media as trade increased and independent businesses grew. Businesses found the mail to be a cost effective way to promote their wares to people who may not ever frequent their store or business. And the ability to have newspapers delivered to homes increased circulation and increased the ability to share news across the world.
As technology continued to expand, so did methods of mail delivery, but even with today’s modern conveniences, the most reliable form of delivery remains as it has for centuries; in capable human hands.