6. The Old Post Office

Communication by post became affordable for the masses with the advent, in 1840, of the first national adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black. The setting up of the Penny Post meant letters could be sent for one penny and as a consequence, Post Offices were established in towns and villages throughout the country. Deanshanger had a village Post Office by 1851 which was located here.

John Rogers was officially listed as the Postmaster, but also operated his boot business out of the same premises. Therefore it was Mrs Jane Rogers who operated the Post Office and later became the first official Post Mistress of the village and reputedly the first in the whole country. John, a Master Boot-maker, and Jane were recorded in the 1881 census as having seven children (5 boys and 2 girls) aged between 1-15, and John's boot business at this time employed 1 man and 1 boy.

According to the 1911 census, Jane was still running the Post Office and grocery shop as a widow, aged 64, assisted by her daughters Edith Isabel aged 23 and Jessie Ethel aged 21. The tradition of female Post Mistresses continued in Deanshanger with Jessie who later became Mrs Cattel on her marriage and took over from Jane and then Isabel Clarke (nee Rogers). Later, Jane's Granddaughter took over from Jessie.

In 1969, the 'General Post Office' was dissolved and eventually led to the establishment of Franchise Post Offices in addition to Main and Sub Post Offices. Deanshanger became a Franchise Post Office, but unusually had its own Sorting Office and a team of village postmen and women.

The Post Office was operated at this site until 2015, after which it relocated to the 'Top Shop' on Puxley Road.