THE Royal Mail has now been delivering letters for 500 years and is one of the oldest and best known organisations in the UK.
The creation of the Royal Mail we know today followed the knighting of Brian Tuke as first Master of the Posts in 1516 by Henry VIII. Tuke had the influence and authority to establish key post towns across the country and build up a formal postal network.
The British institution is now commemorating its special anniversary by creating an online gallery of 500 objects, people and events telling the story not only of the postal service, but also of its contribution to social and political development over that period. Royal Mail has been working on the project with its heritage partner the British Postal Museum Archive (BPMA) to come up with the images from yesteryear.
The British Post Office came into existence four years after the 1707 Act of Union and Scottish milestones will be among those featured in the 5ooth anniversary gallery.
The first mail coach route to Scotland was launched between London and Edinburgh in 1786, coaches travelled the 400 mile journey in about 60 hours compared to 96 hours by a horse.
The gallery will highlight other important mail milestones such as these and others such as the world's first stamp; the Penny Black, and the first ever airmail flight.
Moya Greene, chief executive officer of Royal Mail, said: “We are proud to celebrate the heritage of this great company. The history of the postal service in the UK reflects the tremendous societal and political change that has taken us from sixteenth century Tudor England, via the Act of Union, to the United Kingdom today. It has also changed almost beyond recognition, from a small group of English King’s Messengers in those early days to a national network connecting consumers, companies and communities across the UK today."
To view the gallery visit http://www.royalmailgroup.com/500years" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.