{"id":16434,"date":"2017-06-28T12:38:26","date_gmt":"2017-06-28T12:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=16434"},"modified":"2018-12-18T15:42:18","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T15:42:18","slug":"medieval-post-offices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/medieval-post-offices\/","title":{"rendered":"Of Medieval Post Offices"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Just popping back to Cornwall <\/a>today, to take you to the Old Post Office in Tintagel<\/a>…<\/p>\n

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This traditional Cornish Longhouse started off life some 600 years ago as a Manor house here. \u00a0 You can’t really miss it in thanks to a couple of reasons, its distinctive wavy roof caused by gentle subsidence, and the fact that it’s reportedly now the oldest intact building in Tintagel. \u00a0 You can blame that last point on Alfred Tennyson<\/a> and his Arthurian tales. \u00a0As they gained popularity in the late 1800’s, a lot of similar buildings here were destroyed to make way for new hotels and boarding houses. Tourism can be such a double-edged sword and all that…<\/p>\n

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Anyway, as the area got busier, and the main post office was some 5 miles away, it was decided that Tintagel could definitely do with a “Letter Receiving Office”. \u00a0This was perhaps this particular building’s saviour as \u00a0 the owners of the Manor opted to rent out a room for the purpose, and the rest as they say is history… \u00a0 Do take a closer look at the post box on the outside wall. \u00a0It’s still in use today, but as it dates back to 1857, so it’s one of a handful left in the UK…<\/p>\n

It’s not the biggest Museum in the world, in fact I am wondering if it wins some kind of Smallest National Trust property award, but it’s definitely worth a visit. \u00a0 \u00a0It’s five medieval rooms are very atmospheric, with the main reception hall and it’s huge Gloam oven (regional to Devon and Cornwall)… \u00a0Fired with gorse plucked from the local moors, rumour has it that from time to time local bakers fire it up and create some wonderful ancient breads…<\/p>\n

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Gloam Fire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Main Hall Old Post Office Tintagel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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main bedroom Old Post Office Tintagel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Is there anything as spooky as ancient dolls?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Talking of rumours, The Old Post Office supposedly has a ghost with one of the National Trust Caretakers reporting flickering lights, and other such goings on. \u00a0 I don’t think it’s a ghost with issues though, this place is just far too sweet for that…<\/p>\n

Considering how busy Tintagel is generally with “King Arthur’s” famous castle <\/a>up the road, The Old Post Office wasn’t all that hectic when we visited, and we had the rooms to ourselves most of the time. \u00a0 \u00a0It’s a great place for children (especially history haters given its small size!), with a quiz to fill in as you do the rounds, and staff on hand to answer any questions. \u00a0 \u00a0 The immaculate cottage garden also has games to enjoy, and you are welcome to have a picnic here if your heart desires…<\/p>\n

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The letter receiving room is still intact, and the scales and other such post office paraphernalia let you imagine what it was like back in the day… \u00a0 \u00a0 You can only imagine the types of correspondence that were sent and received here, in fact I wonder whether Mr Tennyson himself posted anything…<\/p>\n

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Letter Receiving Room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you are interested in visiting The Old Post Office when you are next in Tintagel, it’s open all year around between 7 March and 30th October. \u00a0 A Family ticket costs \u00a310.<\/p>\n

If you are interested in Post Office Museums in other countries, you might like this review of Copenhagen’s Postal Museum <\/a>which was one of the last Museum’s we visited when we lived there…<\/p>\n

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